Seek The Harvest

With your hands

you seek the harvest

in compost piles, pig manure, garden beds

and the handle of a hoe that leaves

calluses and blisters

In your hands

you hold the harvest of the earth

cook it in a heavenly sauce

let it fill all who will humbly receive

See you hands

become the harvest

it is now growing in you

give thanks

press the palms together

break them in your labor

giving each piece with joy

I wrote this poem for the Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration in October 2012 at the Asian Rural Institute. I read the poem as a performance during the event. I worked with a Japanese poet who was also volunteering at ARI. Tomi helped me translate my poetry into Japanese and I helped him translate his poem into English. It was a beautiful exchange of poetic and cultural fruits.