HARVESTER’S TALE

Harvester’s Tale

Dear friend, let me educate you

On the art of picking legume groundnut

It might seem like a superficially simple task

But I bet, I could turn out to be more than you’d ask

Firstly consider the pest killers, water snakes

Green things which look like blades of grass

Don’t pull on them thinking they’re solitary weeds

You’ll end up being devoid of your visionary feeds

Take this from me, don’t touch the weeds

Only then won’t you be touched back

Don’t pull on the legume saplings straight up

You’ll get mud spattered all over your top

No, that is not the way you should bend

Part your legs furthermore, bend your knees

Or you’ll end up with the whole damn package

Hamstring pulls and spinal wreckage

Keep your share of the crop to yourself

You’ll get one of every five seeds you pull

Keep them neatly and distinctly stacked

Call grandma to get them packed

Now it might seem like very hard work

Don’t worry, the harvesters keep good company

You don’t need to know the language

They won’t hold you up for a mind gauge

The best part of all this work is the food

Tired and tattered, legs blood spattered

Go wash your feet, then your hands

Make sure to get off your ankles, them frothy bands

Rice, fish curry, with no cutlery

Use your hands, get your fill

Don’t worry about what you spill

Or keep gorging, just until

Thank aunty, touch her feet

Sit by the porch and stare

There’s so much to look for out here

Even the calmly grazing steer

Hard work is a blessing of sorts

Many people are trapped by laziness

Kick them all, send’ em to work

To the fields, where the water snakes lurk