Delta40
07-18-2010, 08:39 PM
I travel through
sacred arteries
of the nine dragons
or Mekong Delta
each vein
a vital lifeforce
to sustain livelihoods
in an endless circle
or reusable life
what grows or collects here
feeds the land
A farmer waves as I pass
his gaunt body and
bandy legs are nothing
compared to his toothless grin
with a boat load of
dug clay from his rising field
The Mekong can continue to
nourish his rice field
when he dredges the field
to stop it from rising
above water level
He motors across the river
and sells the the grey mass
to a small brick factory
Next, he sells a barge of rice husks
for a satisfactory price
the factory owner relies on this fuel
to stoke the fires of the kilns
Bricks are molded often
In the Delta, people battle
the unforgiving erosive river
through rebuilding and invention
Later, the farmer haggles
so he can purchase the husk ash
from the brick factory
and spread its rich nutrients
across his rice field
to ensure a good crop.
sacred arteries
of the nine dragons
or Mekong Delta
each vein
a vital lifeforce
to sustain livelihoods
in an endless circle
or reusable life
what grows or collects here
feeds the land
A farmer waves as I pass
his gaunt body and
bandy legs are nothing
compared to his toothless grin
with a boat load of
dug clay from his rising field
The Mekong can continue to
nourish his rice field
when he dredges the field
to stop it from rising
above water level
He motors across the river
and sells the the grey mass
to a small brick factory
Next, he sells a barge of rice husks
for a satisfactory price
the factory owner relies on this fuel
to stoke the fires of the kilns
Bricks are molded often
In the Delta, people battle
the unforgiving erosive river
through rebuilding and invention
Later, the farmer haggles
so he can purchase the husk ash
from the brick factory
and spread its rich nutrients
across his rice field
to ensure a good crop.