44s

On a hot summers day
	sunlight beating down
black asphalt radiates
	the sun’s burning heat

with the stink of diesel fumes
	and the screech of air brakes
the tractor painted white
	pulling a trailer oh so long

they called and gathered us
	to form a line so long
pushed up the rolling door
	threw out a 40 pound case

cases heavy and white
	smelling of citrus sharp
filled with fruit orange
	called out 52’s

started a sing song chant
	with every case they threw
we pass them down the chain
	each case caught and then thrown on

sweating in hot sun light
	young muscles with effort strained
as the chant went on
	till called out 44’s

the older men did stop
	the endless cases thrown
with smiles they gathered around
	us youth gathered behind

the case they opened then
	with oranges so large filled
each one they did pass on
	till each of us had one

an orange so big had I
	never seen before
and soon I was to learn
	the very reason why

every orange in the case we ate
	each and every one
 till the 44’s were gone
	and then we continued on

a lesson I did learn
	of oranges never seen
and never found in stores
	a case of 44’s

Copyright © William Kofoed | Year Posted 2021

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