Evening Rice Field

Dragonfly wings
red with sunset light

rising, twisting, falling

to rise and twist again.

A flash of winged white

lands long-legged

in the tender green.

Each step in silent slow motion

stalking a slippery prey

in the watery earth.

To sit and watch

the evening rice field

feed the millions,

yet never betraying

the barefooted footsteps

taken in the day’s toil

by women

darkened in the sun

and wrapped in the colours

of earth, fire, wind and water.

The stalks of green

stand straight

giving sway only to the

whims of the wind.

While tall trees of

white bark and lofty tufts

join the dance below.

Darkness, then, like a blanket

covers the eyes and opens

the ears to the nocturnal chorus.

Paul

02/09/2010