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.
