Poetry

"Primary Lessons in Political Economy"

For every ten bushels of paddy she harvests
   the landless laborer takes home one.

This woman, whose name is Hiria, would have to starve
   for three days to buy a liter of milk.

If she were to check her hunger and not eat
   for a month she could buy a book of poems.

And if Hiria, who works endlessly, could starve
   endlessly, in ten years she could buy that piece

Of land on which during short winter evenings
   the landlord's son plays badminton.

from Passport Photos, 2000