LIKE EVERTHING ELSE

I remember the story,

Charles Kuralt on Sunday Morning;

the machines weren't cutting it.

Though they had been redesigned

a hundred times and modified a million

more, they still crushed the tomatoes.

With migrant fieldworkers in the

background to pick up the slack,

and beside a stalled harvester,

the reporter interviewed a farmer

in California's central valley,

“It's no use,” he said,

tossing the wounded fruit to the earth.

The newsman agreed and smiled at us,

“So the scientists have a plan,

if you can't change the machine

to fit the tomato, you can change

the tomato to fit the machine.”

I heard the rue in his voice, and

wondered. I didn't know how

that would work for a couple more

years because we grew our own.

On a day when I chopped weeds

under a bare-knuckle sun

out in the kitchen garden,

I could slake my thirst on a tomato

the size and color of my heart.

They were all juice on the inside,

and the walls were little veins.

They're called “heirlooms” now,

and I can't get them to grow

like they used to.

But the hybrids flourish,

and taste like cardboard.

Reviews

[Lorry]

Yes, they do. I remember when tomatoes were bigger, redder and let's face it, tomatoier than whatever the hell supermarkets are passing off in their place.
When all you needed was one slice to cover a burger and yes, I'm going to say it again, despite no technology to speak of, things were much better in the far, far away and you can tell your grandkids and they'll be impressed you lived along with the dinosaurs, and you'll smile and not get offended. 😊

[Vol]

Lorry,
is it possible that "progress" is a self-contradictory word?
Vol

[Lorry]

I think so. Its what makes kids think they're so much better than all previous generations, with so little evidence, other than saying how amazing they are.
But we know that can't be true, because our generation was the best because..... Oh there's too many reasons to think about it, but we were! 😊

[Vol]

Lil doodoo heads