Notes About The Poem
In the 1930s; severe drought conditions and a lack of experience by people from the east who had migrated to the Great plains of America to take up farming, resulted in a disaster which became known as the Dust Bowl. the main causes were inexperience and drought .
Natura deep rooted grasses which held the soil in place were dug out and ordinary seed planted then a drought came and dried the soil out making it brittle and the strong winds on the plains took the top soil away forming giant dust clouds.
The dust clouds even blew east and one winter in New England red snow fell due to the dust in the atmosphere.Many people died including livestock.
Had the dry farming method been followed it may have never have happened on such a large scale
The severe conditions lasted about eight years.
Dust Bowl Anthology
a mass migration
heading west to farm the land ~
inexperienced
in the arid soil
ordinary crops planted ~
dry farming ignored
drought and poor farming
topsoil blowing in the wind ~
dust bowl created
deep rooted plains grass
taken out and wheat planted ~
devastation looms
across the great plains
a dusty black flag unfurled ~
the days become nights
in all the plains homes
dust blowing in through fine cracks ~
powdery cover
the deadly dust clouds
respiratory problems ~
cause of many deaths
clouds of fine red dust
settles all over the plains ~
a crimson carpet
new england winter
fine dust in the atmosphere ~
causes red snowfall
kansas city news
edward stanley editor ~
coined the term dust bowl
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2018
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