Mechanical Legions



The ground rumbles
beneath mechanical
legions burying
the family farm
under chemicals
and mass production.

With lantern eyes behemoths
blind the moon as their
bladed teeth chew
through generations
of blood sweat and tears.

Night has surrendered
the call of cricket and owl
to the noise of machines
harvesting grain to feed
a corporation’s bottom line.


©Susie Clevenger 2012
Real Toads Out of Standard: Whirly-gig the Bounty

Comments

vivinfrance said…
Suzie, you have said what I was trying to say, but yours is a real poem. I am humbled.
October 18, 2012 at 2:39 AM
Janine Bollée said…
Ouch!
You tell it like it is.
And don't we all suffer because of the methods employed. Personally I am fortunate in having found a safe haven to escape from these fiendish modern practices, although it was already too late for my health. So many don't even know what is ailing them and why. Horrendous mistakes we are making, in spite of the likes of Rachel Carson and Adele Davis, who both warned so eloquently so many years ago now.
This is a magnificent summing up and should be on every school's curriculum.
October 18, 2012 at 2:44 AM
Anonymous said…
Well done. k.
October 18, 2012 at 6:59 AM
Kerry O'Connor said…
Each stanza has such a strong juxtaposition: the family farm vs mass production, the lantern lights blinding the moon, and the sounds of nature drowned by mechanical noise. Your message is strong, and so well-expressed.
October 18, 2012 at 8:51 AM
hedgewitch said…
Reads like headlines, scary and emphatic.
October 18, 2012 at 9:06 AM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
"harvesting grain to feed a corporation's bottom line" just says it all, kiddo. Argh. I remember talking about this stuff in the 80's and everyone thought we were lunatics. And tho the damage has increased exponentially, still corporations rule. At such a bottom line to the planet it is unthinkable.
October 18, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Anonymous said…
We're not quite there yet, here in the north country, but clearly we're getting there....

Solid imagery here really promotes the message. Well done.
October 18, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Herotomost said…
I think you nailed it. Such an unatural juxtaposition for a life on the farm. You brought the cahallenge to life....great work.
October 18, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Kay L. Davies said…
You really nailed it, Susie, in a perfect poem. Bravo.
K
October 18, 2012 at 7:13 PM
Isadora Gruye said…
holy sh#t, this is awesome. From the stunning monster imagery to the clever and cutting last line, you have out shined the brightest night harvestor flood light!
October 18, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Ella said…
Oh, this is so well done~ I love the teeth and the moon! Well Done!
Love it~
October 18, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Hannah said…
Your image....is FANTASTIC!! I love that...

Your poem weaves so well emotion, nature and the sharp slap of a industrial reality.

Very well balanced...great piece, Suzie!
October 19, 2012 at 8:25 PM
Margaret said…
I LOVE every pickin' cotton word! The message is fantastic and the photograph.... well, it is stunning. Wonderfully delivered.
October 19, 2012 at 10:35 PM
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