Wednesday, July 9, 2008

EVERGREEN by Ake, translated by Boom

I’ve grown up among the ever-greenness of several kind of trees; some can be eaten while some cannot be. But the only one thing that the trees in my home has is the freshness they gave to me in every time that I get close to them. Once I wake up, I usually stand still to welcome the morning sunshine at my vegetables garden which my family and I planted together. I cast a look at the raindrop which is lying itself on the top of them. It is very beautiful when it is lightened by the sunshine.

I lived with my family for 18 years, then had to leave home to earn a living in Bangkok. I worked in this chaotic city for 2 years. I’m very tired. I miss my home, my trees and also warming sunshine at my place but I can’t go back because I haven’t found what I look for yet. Until the day that I knew Phranakorn-Nornlen. This place teaches me to know more about myself, to think and to do. But the coolest thing that PN gave me is a chance to do what I want and that’s the beginning of the PN’s rooftop garden!

When I first opened its gate, I was amazed with something. I saw greenness, heard the sound of water flows plus the music which was played like knowing what I long for. It brought me to life again! I walked around the house (the word I call PN) to greet all trees with happiness until I forgot that I was working. Later I had to take my eyes of them although I didn’t want to.

When time passed in the afternoon, I surveyed my home again with curiosity. My heart was in merry. I looked at the paintings on the wall as if I was hypnotized; they were full of power and the spirit of the painter. I enjoyed looking at them, and then I arrived at the rooftop by chance. My heart was sad when I saw something in front of my face. I sighed while I stared at cement floor which was burned up by the heat of the sunlight then I could see its ray which arose from the floor like the smoke that was launched from a stove! I looked at it for a while and talked to myself that I wouldn’t leave this place into dryness like my heart right now.

I began to think about what I have to do to make this place green like my home. I thought about this for a week. Until the second week, one day I was very hungry, so I bought papaya salad (Som-Tum) from the front of the street. The seller gave me some vegetables ; eggplants, white green and basil which made me very happy. So I brought all of them to eat at the rooftop. While I was about to pick them up, they slipped out of my hand. Soon they were scatted all over the floor. I saw the eggplant rolled with anger in my clumsy. Then I picked and heap them. Suddenly, when I saw the greenness of vegetables which was contrast with the white cement floor, my idea was popped up that I would grow vegetables!


I tried in many ways to present this to the house owner. Luckily, it’s like a will of God that inspired her to think the same as me. I smiled happily after hearing the approval. What is my rooftop garden like?


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