That Country

This is about the women of that country Sometimes they spoke in slogans They said We patch the roads as we patch our sweetheart’s trousers The heart will stop but not the transport They said We have ensured production even near bomb craters Children let your voices sing higher than the explosions of the bombs They said We have important tasks to teach the children that the people are the collective masters to bear hardship to instill love in the family to guide the good health of the children (they must wear clothing according to climate) They said Once men beat their wives now they may not Once a poor family sold its daughter to a rich old man now the young may love one another They said Once we planted our rice any old way now we plant the young shoots in straight rows so the imperialist pilot can see how steady our hands are In the evening we walked along the shores of the Lake of the Restored Sword I said   is it true?   we are sisters? They said   Yes, we are of one family