American Maize

American Maize

"It's not as good as ours" he said
We stand looking at new brought trailer load
Of Yankee maize viewed under azure sky
Got from a silo in the town
By road-sore tractor on road-sore roads
"No, it's not as good as ours.
Look at all these husks and leaves.
I'll have to get rid of them
Before I can mill them down."
By I, he means, of course, They
Who long, hard labour for his pay
Whilst he and I sit in humble shade
And drink of coffee while they sweating sort
The useful from the dross in that heavy load
And feed the hungry maw of hammer mill
With maize from foreign, far off land.
He gazes at the work and load
"No, no it's not as good as ours" he says

24/04/1998