Maipenrai (ไม่เป็นรัย) – 15th May 2025

Shared with dVerse Poetics: “I Have No Word in English For”. Anyone familiar enough with Thailand will intimately know this phrase. A calm acceptance? There’s nothing to be done? Fuggedaboudit?
I’ve left the phrase ‘nevermind’ like this as Google Translate also maintains it and it obviously references the slacker album from Nirvana.

Nevermind the goings on,
nevermind the things done wrong;
Say it with a smile,
sing it with a sigh;
Nevermind – maipenrai.

Nevermind, not Nirvana
toking on more marijuana;
Swing it up in style
and never question why;
Nevermind – maipenrai.

Nevermind the right or wrong,
the contrarian does not belong;
Sit down for a while,
let the anger pass on by;
Nevermind – maipenrai.

Nevermind the destination,
nevermind your frustration;
Sing your acceptance
so everyone may comply;
Nevermind – maipenrai.