Winter, North Vietnam

Grey bullocks plough the green fields brown;
a paddled tractor muddles by;
flat water squares awaiting rice
are grey fields mirroring grey sky.

Whole schools of children cycle past
misted banana trees and palms;
grey tarmac roads span splashy pools
where floats of tame ducks quell their qualms.

Grey walls of buildings front more fields
whose matt green spatters topee'd heads,
a real-life water colour scene
where sunless drizzle dourly spreads.


But coned bent backs plant change to come;
the new-shoot green shines winter's cure;
the wading cold promises sun
with message clear - only endure.