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.