![Tea Swarm [Haibun] Tea Swarm [Haibun]](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/283/2834788/tea-swarm-haibun-L-Qg6Gxw.jpeg)
The cone-hatted ladies converge on the plantation, a spreading swarm, picking the fresh green leaves, tossing them over the shoulder into a backpacked wicker basket, leaving behind a flattop trimmed tea shrub. The mid-day rains drive away the pickers for a short time, but they'll be back, squeezing between dripping tea trees, their skirts saturated with the cold morning rain that will steam off into a muggy afternoon. tea pickers head back to the fields after mid-day rains