Rather than travel on the traffic-choked roads or the subway in Bangkok, I preferred the waterways. This little boat, the hotel’s shuttle,
swept us up the Chao Praya River to the public dock.
There we watched as other small boats fought the current, traversing sweeping arcs to drift down to the dock rather than heading straight in, ultimately bumping hard and wheezing as they depositing travelers at the dock.
To further our journeys, we tried the tourist boat first, but found later that we preferred the public express boats. It was great to stand at the rail and watch the sights go by, both on the shore and in long-tail boats and barges. 
From the river, canals flare out across the city. As we walked along the canal, we passed by wooden homes, 
under rustic bridges, and finally through a restaurant that inspired the following piece:
Along the table,
up the post, across the corrugated metal roof
and down to the plug
the burner's cord is strung. 
She ignites the flame.
Another long-tail boat roars by,
sloshing water up one side of the canal
and then up the other.
She chops the chilis
to the rhythm of the waves,
16 slices per splash.
The goat nudges her ankle
as she brings out the beef.
Sweet as he is,
she resists slipping him a bite,
remembering him springing on the counter,
nimble feet trampling her work,
muzzle in anything and everything.
She shoos him away
to amuse the baby.
Spooning curry paste into the pan,
nd waiting for the sizzle,
she adds the coconut milk
that crackles and spits in the high heat.
Next come the beef and kaffir lime leaves.
Pulling a large pan from the shelf below,
she transfers the concoction and continues.
seasons with palm sugar and fish sauce,
and adds the tiny Thai eggplants.
After pouring the curry
into the bowls,
she adds a final sprinkle of sweet basil leaves and red chilies.
At her right elbow,
her son sits watching the tv that dangles
from the roof of the shelter,
ready to jump up and take orders
from anyone who settles in at a table.
She is grateful for her canalside spot.
Though the rain trickles in,
and the heat sometimes overwhelms her,
the magnificent scents that swirl from her plates
draw passersby in.