Title: Banana Tree Horse
Author: Paiwarin Khao-Ngam
Translated into English by B. Kasemsri
Photo on the book cover portrays a Thai traditional game called 'Banana Horse Riding'. Children make a toy horse from banana leaves and play by riding around alone or running a race holding the toy horse between their legs. This is one of the simple and interesting ways to make use of banana trees that grow all year round and can be found all over Thailand.
This book is a collection of poetry which reflect Thai ways of life. My favorite is in the first chapter; 'Banana Tree Horse 1', page 20-21.
It is a story of a young migrant, who moves from a countryside to the capital city. He rides to the city with his banana tree horse and a gun, both made from banana leaves and crafted by his father. They symbolize his childhood and the rural world he comes from. They also means courage and protection for the roaming hero in search of his destiny. As he arrives to the 'City of Angels' he sees a different world, so full of 'hazy smoke', 'rows and rows of concrete gables', 'jumbles wires and tangled cables', and 'jingling and jangling sounds'. Time has past and the man has come to realize that this is not his destiny. He cannot fight the impact of urban alienation he experiences, for example 'search in vain for a mate...to find only my faithful steed', 'weak in face of many a demon...surrounded by ferocious foes', and 'with chest scars and a bleeding pain'. Finally, he understands that his 'dreams of conquest' are quickly 'undone by urban machines' and the courage and protection (banana tree and gun) he has brought with him may be defeated too. In order to save himself from further misery, he decides to 'rid back o'er rice field' back to his home and back to his natural world again.
It is a powerful message from one of migrant's point of views. One that is bound by the unfamiliarity of urban life and eventually suffer from alienation. The only way he can survive is by going back home where he belongs. But not all migrants can do that.
As an immigrant in Finland, I feel strongly connected to this piece of poetry, especially the unfulfilled dreams and loneliness parts ('the dreams of conquests...now undone by urban machines' and 'search in vain for a mate...to find only my faithful steed'). Immigrants often have expectations of the new place before they relocate. Many have dreams for their new beginnings. Some need to leave their past in order to search for their future. Once they reach their destination, many of them might find themselves in a whole different world, a totally new home. The world that treats them like a renter, not a homeowner. Nothing in this new home belongs to them, and they don't belong to it, just yet, either. Hence, their expectations, dreams and needs can not be quickly fulfilled. It takes time to gain the sense of belonging. It takes more than courage to adapt to the new environment and to be accepted. It needs more than patience to persevere through times of difficulties. And there's no better life-driven transportation than hope, and only hope alone becomes the best personal weapon. Hope for a better day when you fail. Hope for a new day when you're hurt.... I can keep writing,but the length of this text might wear you out. So let me finish by saying that, unlike the man in this poetry, I choose to fight for my dream with the courage held firmly in my hands and hope in my heart. Here I am and I'm standing tall.
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