It will come for you even if you leave it

Grandfather burns away
feathers from flesh.
In the kitchen, the women

cut then soak pieces
of raw meat in water until
the murk runs clear.

There is ginger-root,
salt. Leaves from the alugbati
or the pepper plant, chunks

of green papaya. They tell me:
If you learn how to read, you
could live.
You could learn

from the things of this world
how to make what is necessary.
Whether or not you cry, certain

things will or will not get done.
This is not called misfortune.
This is only your life.

 

In response to Via Negativa: Forestry.

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