Rice Paddy Feels Swampy Today

Rice paddy wakes up ready to be planted. Where are those lazy farmers? Snicker laughs. Nothing lazy about them. They are the most cheerful workers she knows She feels swampy today, colder than usual The plow is heading her way, She can see it a bit past the tiered fields Golden streams snaking through tall verdant grasses She waves, but pointed bamboo hat man does not see He is getting older, slower, He does not bend as long over her as he used to Gets more angry about the menacing rats too Losing his grip in some ways She learned that her sake is a hit in the west No surprise to her. Japan, Hanoi and Vietnam love it, don’t they? She has heard old coolie brag about her rice, more than any other paddy. Rice Paddy watches him turn the plow over to his son Son is lazy. Should be getting plow himself. Spends too much time over nothing. How will she fare when Old Man Farmer is no longer of this world? She bows to him as he enters her waters, knowing she will miss him terribly.