<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><div>The Farmer’s Wife</div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>(In memory of Masako)</i></span></div><div><br></div><div>She sold tomatoes, corn and peppers</div><div>from the wooden stand</div><div>by their Fresno farm</div><div>surrounded by melon fields</div><div>and orange groves.</div><div>Apt at the calculator,</div><div>she figured out profits</div><div>no matter how meager.</div><div>In winter</div><div>she wore wool checkered shirts.</div><div>In summer</div><div>a light blouse sufficed</div><div>In the intense Central Valley heat.</div><div><br></div><div>By day</div><div>she hoisted crates of produce</div><div>and soothed customers.</div><div>In late evening</div><div>she walked with her husband</div><div>by the irrigation canals.</div><div>She could tie a kid’s shoes</div><div>tell a good story</div><div>or just listen.</div><div>She collected family photos</div><div>dolls</div><div>figurines</div><div>and laughed at the clutter.</div><div><br></div><div>She survived</div><div>sickness</div><div>the depression</div><div>the internment camp at Tule Lake</div><div>and raised four children</div><div>who became</div><div>doctors</div><div>teachers</div><div>entrepreneurs.</div><div><br></div><div>At eighty-three</div><div>she died well-loved</div><div>but not yet famous.</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Laura Blatt</div></div></body></html>