Red dirt

Red dirt drapes the canvas of an otherwise harsh countryside
full of heartache
hard-work
hard-men,
women
nature's reward for pain and suffering
and hardship-
open the heavens,
tears fall to the ground
paint the earth here, red
paint the souls, red
like ancestors of this land-
those forgotten,
yet walked the same roads,
years ago-
felt the same heartache,
pain
suffering-
for a hard existence,
yet smiling, always smiling
into the face of their adversary-
Mother Nature,
fickle, sometimes cruel
time stands still in the vast expanse of land,
a myriad of colours,
that always begin and end with red
intermingled, the fruits of  labour,
lights the face of those that have-
pledged their love and their life to this land-
selfless souls, we thank you.