The Farmer In Fields. Poem by Gangadharan nair Pulingat..

A long walk behind bullocks
To plough the paddy field
And make ready the field
For comfortable seedling planting.

Be it heavy torrential rain
Or fearful thunderstorm
Hardness of the paddy field
Not a matter of concern
Walk in haste for maximum out turn.

The poor bullocks but always helpful
Never hesitates to walk and plough
As if their master's wish is supreme
Their fodder and water he ensured.

The tea and light meals served
In field itself to save the time
It was an experience to remember always
The most liked food ever for remembrance.

The wages were meager but labor heavy
Still it was helpful
To maintain a family of five
And to live in peace without hunger.

Mother was always waiting
A welcome to her dear son
Who works for a livelihood for family
Always in tears in her solitude.

During the harvest season it was busy
Harvesting the paddy most strenuous
But always happy to see the grains
The event of prosperity comes in villages.

In nights the duty was to separate the grain
From the hay in such care and efforts
Where bullocks also used, tied in a post
Rounded all round the center post
The harvesting songs made the village happy.

The Moon light gave its comforts
While we were in separating the hay
Our songs were aloud and rhymes so nice
Commanding the bullocks to walk in speed.

In the early morning we collected grain
And separated the hay in such care
A comfortable village life of those time.
But gone for ever, the gladness of paddy
The paddy fields are converted into posh houses.

Changes of world is ever great and convenient
But the real sustenance of people in cultivation
The cultivators are to be given such inspiration
Then only the world food situation improves.