In Memoriam

I wade into the jaded wild surf of

Da Nang

to grieve the loss of souls who bled here,

where sullen skies

rain pellets of bruised sorrow

and sand crabs shudder disbelief.

The beachhead, once swarming

with macabre killing machines,

is colored these days in purple melancholy,

desolate, save a lone bagpipe player, howling a song

so forlorn in its cheerlessness

that the heart sheds tears without relent.

WJD

My Khe Beach in Da Nang is deserted most of the day and stretches 30 kilometers along one edge of the city. The government was wise to prevent blocked views by the resort hotels on the beach.

Locals use the beach in early morning exercise before sunrise.

The Japanese built this covered Bridge in Hội An, a city designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Hội An was a major trading center in Vietnam.

Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Indians traded there.

Hội An was a sleepy little town (population 122,000) until UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage site. Today it is bustling,chock full with restaurants, shops, bars, other tourist stops. Classic buildings have been restoredand some of Vietnam’s delights are showcased: incredible delicious baguette sandwiches and Vietnamese drip coffee, which when mixed with condensed milk, has the taste of chocolate.