She had a beautiful smile.

It made a glow in the country darkness.

She was unconventional for a city girl.

She wanted to live in a village.

In the openness of a community.

Farm in the morning

And take a nap in the afternoon

Under a tree.

She didn’t like the buzz in the city

Nor the honk in traffic during rush hour.

She preferred the peace of the village

And the mooing of cows just before dusk.

She wanted a life there. In my village.

Wrapped in traditional fabric — leso

And traditional ornaments adorning

Her hair, her ears and her neck.

Her thirst quenched by River Nam’s cool waters.

She wanted all that but not for herself alone.

She wanted it with me.

I was a village boy in the city.

The city lights shone life into me.

The buzz in the streets kept me alive.

I wanted to live here.

Go to work in the morning

Meetup at the coffee house in the evening

Retreat to the gated community by nightfall.

I didn’t like the routine of the village

Nor the darkness when night came.

I felt neat under the suits

And accomplished wearing leather strap watches.

The ice cold bottled water always felt redeeming

And take out felt like living the dream.

I wanted a life here, with her by my side.

But I left it all for the village