born wet and innocent
your mother pushing you out
amidst rice fields at night
with minimal moans so as not to wake
others in a nearby hut

open your eyes wet with birth fluids
to vague shades of snakes
outside the slats of the house that shuts them out

sleep against your mother's swollen breasts yet to be
more swollen when the milk comes in
to nurse you into this life of daily sustenance

grow with the villagers congregating in their hammocks
dirty and unattached to what that means
give yourself over to this world uncontrolled by riches
except within the souls of your clan