We leave the paddy as the last of the sun
sloshes round the newly planted shoots.
We dine on last year’s crop
light brown, fluffed up and swelling
from the large serving dish.
Every mouthful tastes of the outdoors,
each grain planted and gathered by hand.
No wonder our host picked clean the cooking pot,
fastidiously consuming every piece of his hard-won harvest.
sloshes round the newly planted shoots.
We dine on last year’s crop
light brown, fluffed up and swelling
from the large serving dish.
Every mouthful tastes of the outdoors,
each grain planted and gathered by hand.
No wonder our host picked clean the cooking pot,
fastidiously consuming every piece of his hard-won harvest.