The paddy field

Yonder in the paddy field
The sun and shadow
play hide and seek
The drone sets the tone
For  another day's toil.

The white rafts of cloud
Set sail in the skies
To carry raindrops
from the faraway ocean,
for watering the plants.

The love-birds set
the landscape abuzz
with their constant chirping
as background beat to
the bullocks' fuzz.

Time for father and son to
Toil in the field
Till away to the sunset
When light gives darkness the yield.

Their toil feeds
A million hungry stomachs
Without any expectation
of favour or fervour.

The selfless travail
On black cotton soil
Passes on,
from generation to generation-
Of change, there is no avail.

The young feet have to trudge
The fallows and the sludge
At a time when he should plod
his way to the village school.

Destiny has not smiled on him, yet
The smile on him has not gone away
He churns out his karmic duties
Much like a faithful soldier
Marching, on and on, in the clay.
❣D❣