Non La (Vietnamese hat)

A lone hat appears almost motionless
In this vast arena of life giving green
Diligently about your work
Intermittently straight for the ache in your back
Away in the distance just beyond your hat
Stubborn jungled hills
Are judge and jury to the alien
Black boots come to trample your grass
What must you be thinking now
In this maelstrom of detritus and hate
Patriotic or hungry and this day will never end
I have at last come to witness
Your trueness like my curiosities promised they would
As I emerge from my tour bus dream you are still there
Though I will never meet you here
Un-deterred I stand forever impressed and amazed at
Your oriental and timeless task