earth note 41

tall silage grass near phunphin thailand
yellow dry clumps pushing the edge
of an asphalt road
sticky tar and bicycle wheels
startled heads turn
a long scythe swishes
cresting wave collapses
dropping bundles in calloused handfuls
tin cauldron rice and curry
six women on their haunches
focus on wooden bowls
a perfect soprano yells kin khao
i blush as she looks at me
legs of another twenty feet
sing golden breathing earth

--- e b bortz

(published in 3 Tombs, 1998)