I've had just enough time to... carry something heavier than words
Taken in a small village in Ubud, Bali of strong women with strong neck
This
load is not heavy
I’ve
carried heavier still
Earth, stone
and ore
Sand
that got into your eyes
Salt
that made you cry
I can
still smile
Carry my
head high
See that
child running there
He is
mine
I carry
these loads
So that
his head will carry -
Nothing
heavier than words
I stayed
in a small resort among the padi fields of Ubud, Bali where you have to travel
through the village to get there. One morning when I walked outside, I saw the
women of the villagers carrying large pails of black sand on their head to fill
a field. The loads looked very heavy and I wondered how they can balance it on
their head when I will have trouble lugging them with my hands. And they have to
walk quite a distance to and fro for the whole day for many days that will be
needed to fill the field. What a tough way to earn a supplementary income – all
for the sake of their family but they can still smile. This reminded me of the
thousands of tablecloths (I hated red chili stains on white tablecloths as they
are the most difficult to get rid of) my mum has to wash to give us a proper
education.
davidseibold, DotOnLine, ΞSSΞ®®Ξ, and 3 other people added this photo to their favorites.
ReplyDelete1000 Reasons
I stayed in a small resort among the padi fields of Ubud, Bali where you have to travel through the village to get there. One morning when I walked outside, I saw the women of the villagers carrying large pails of black sand on their head to fill a field. The loads looked very heavy and I wondered how they can balance it on their head when I will have trouble lugging them with my hands. And they have to walk quite a distance to and fro for the whole day for many days that will be needed to fill the field. What a tough way to earn a supplementary income – all for the sake of their family but they can still smile. This reminded me of the thousands of tablecloths (I hated red chili stains on white tablecloths as they are the most difficult to get rid of) my mum has to wash to give us a proper education.
ShambLady
nicely captured hard working women! the expressions are nice and the poem is lovely! wishing you a fantastic weekend!!
Onasill ~ New Format for Awhile
A great capture of daily life.
henrhyde (gill)
Beautiful cultural composition , -- great work -- reminder of the lives of other people -- not so fortunate as ourselves
狂野的男人
Tough life , it reminds me of my indo neighbor who came to work here in the oil palm estate since 3 years ago ,he decided to go back last month as he has never met his son since his son was born . Unfortunately, his heartless boss paid him only 1/3 of his salary and telling him that the balance will be paid if he came back to work again . The boss will never realize that no matter how rich he will be , he still owe this poor family forever and has no chance to pay back ,
狂野的男人
Nice batik my friend .
1000 Reasons
Thank you 狂野的男人. It also reminds me of my Indo maid who is now home in Indonesia to attend her husband's funeral (they only married last year). Her father died at age 5. She came to work for us at age 16 and have been with us for more than 20 years. The life of some are just so sad and if we contributed to their sorrow, it is unpardonable!!
ineedathis
At least they do make an honest living, takes a strong will person to do that and smile,
Bali is known for its great woodcarving and silver beads,
Great capture my friend!
Wishing you a delightful weekend.
ReplyDeleteAndrew 62
Beautiful image and smiles ...
such a contrast to the work ethic here in the west
BlueLunarRose
This is the strong will of life, their sacrifice and hard working to offer their families and children the best life they can give them, if everyone in the world appreciated this honesty and these smiles full of hope and will, these hands and heads, this respect to human being and respect to life, most of the world troubles would be solved.
and they wear beautiful cloths too :)
what is this black sand for? for better planting, like compost?
1000 Reasons
No, BlueLunarRose, I don't think so. It looks more like fine gravel to me though I did not get close enough to be sure. And they will filling a padi field, probably to construct a building later.
oola *
heavier than words... the burden put on people when others judge them or just dismiss them... having lived in several foster homes and witnessed the cruelty of words thoughtlessly spoken... I've seen fine people had to carry several burdens at once... then get kicked by the words of people who don't think twice of others....
I realize that is not what your post meant... for words should be a better burden compared to the labor involved in carrying the dirt/sand... but from where I have been and what I have seen... this was my first reaction...
1000 Reasons
Thanks Oola, I was giving a positive perspective to a great hardship faced by many in poverty including myself in my youth. But you are right that words can be very heavy and sometimes heavier than the sand/dirt that is being carried. I know that too...
1000 Reasons
And oh, the mother carried the sand so that her child will not carry those types of words too.
ReplyDeletekelly dilello
I love everything about this, including your words. and how did they carry it on their heads i do wonder that too. and why fill a field with dirt?
kelly dilello
you have a maid?
娜 娜☂Nana
Thank you for sharing thought and life diary.
Look forward to your new work!!! Best wishes
bloodybee
beautiful daily scene.
love the title too
october blue
These ladies show such dignity and grace , despite their hard labor . An excellent shot ....
ana_lee_smith
Beautifully executed in words & image, thou ....an evocative image, 3 females (visible), the first looking serene, the second cheerful & flirting with the lens & the third, the young one, not much more than a child, in tears, tears of unhappiness it seems. Perhaps she too craves that option of 'words in the head' (school)