Надежда Пустовойтова. Imminence of Being

The trees float past
the moon's above
half-disclosed, no stars
the car is roaming
on a dirt trail
destination is hardly known
and I thought -
that was a very interesting composition
a moon parade
among the clouds
abruptly
the whole scene is turned around
with a sight of a woman
walking with bucket on top
what a pleasant surprise
at arm's lenghth
striped clothing
bright colors
she treads
no way there's water
a field of paddy
cracking in peculiar pattern
mountains gleaming
down the road
just an episode
warped by distance
slowly, the car makes a turn
backs away
in the midst of
a vast space
this endless plain
with a bridge across a dry river
whose thinning sleeves
are winding in red clay
as if to remind it
a feel of water
ancient times
a bird
rises up from the treeline
there will be a dawn tomorrow
and people will drag their lives
here or there
across the fields of rice
moving ahead
like strangers
with no expectation
no end in sight
no asking what's the point
simply subjected
to this imminence of being.