Guide To The Cu Chi Tunnels Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Mister Kong the guide
Is the primary teacher from hell

How many people living in Saigon?
You not know mister? Madam?
Guess! I ask you all!
But no-one knows so Mister Kong must tell.

On he goes, pedantic drone
As we bounce on the rickety potholes

I save foreign coins for my collection.
You give me some small change please,
From your homeland? Will make me very happy
I very handsome. No?
I tell a joke

It fails to cross the international barriers, this joke
No one claps or laughs

Untipped at tour-end, Mr Kong looks sad
Packs up his joke and melts
Into the seething cauldron that’s Saigon