Because no one had hired us
we stood around all day
waiting, yarning. We watched as
landowners came and went,
striking deals and gathering their labour.
We could have thrust ourselves forward,
but we didn’t. The day was hot;
it would be cooler tomorrow.
At five, the shadows were starting to grow
long and it was pleasantly cool
when the landowner arrived.
(We had watched him come
and go throughout the day,
recruiting teams for his vineyard.)
Seems he still had grapes that needed picking.
Would we come?
We shrugged our collective shoulders.
Only an hour, but it might pay
for a cup of wine on the way home.
So we went,
picked a few baskets before the sun
finally withdrew its rays,
and lined up with the rest of them.
You wouldn’t believe it,
but he paid us late-comers first,
and gave us the full twelve hours!
He paid everyone the full twelve hours.
You’d need a knife to get the smiles
of our faces, but the six o’clock crowd
didn’t get the joke at all.
I’m coming back tomorrow!
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