Inside Out

U

the machete

slicing the sugar

swoosh

the sugarcane falls

like a soldier

wounded in battle

or perhaps

a more fitting analogy:

a country

crippled by gang violence

the fields stink

of sweat

blood

chemicals

and stale vomit

men and boys passing out

or,

more often,

throwing up

from the dehydration

chemicals

5-hour shifts

no breaks

104° F heat

i bring my own water

it is rarely enough

and by the time the sun has climbed to the top

of the sky

hazy from smoke and smog alike

the water is too hot to drink,

anyway

still,

i empty out a bit of my bottle

into my brothers'

even though they insist they are fine

i can see the weariness

in their young eyes

and the way their shoulders slump

bodies sag

sometimes too tired

to even complete the journey home