Fighting Fate
Of the first five Presidents of the USA,
four were Virginians. What does that say?
It says that the South, superb, serene,
bestrode the land, a virgin queen.
When the gauge of a nation's financial health
was tobacco and cotton, America's wealth
was centred on those vast plantations,
the envy of all other nations.
But - threat or opportunity - we find
that change is never far behind
our moments of repose or pleasure.
The South had, in unstinted measure,
a climate made for agriculture -
but Fate is a voracious vulture,
breeds the beef, then picks the carcass clean.
In Massachusetts, new machines
were making clothing cheaper, faster.
King Cotton make way for new masters?
Unthinkable? Well, think again!
The North had lots of one thing (rain)
which meant fast rivers. Water's free,
and drives the new machinery,
like Slater's Mill. And what is more,
the North has coal, and iron ore!
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine -
the South looks with genteel disdain
on dour gray states with ugly mines
and foundries, north of Mason's line,
but once that giant finds his feet,
the South is dead, defeated, beat;
gone with the wind that blew through Tara.
No more tomorrows, Miss O'Hara.
It's not for slavery or even states' rights
that thirteen States resolved to fight.
The South waged war, not to preserve
Its unique vigor, valor, verve,
or its "peculiar institutions":
it fought the Industrial Revolution.
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
