Kids of the Homefront Army: Black Market

There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives and in our daily tasks. Here at home everyone will have the privilege of making whatever self-denial is necessary, not only to supply our fighting men, but to keep the economic structure of our country fortified and secure during the war and after the war.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s radio broadcast to the nation, April 28, 1942

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Black Market

Adele

BLACK MARKET

I’m so angry I could scream!
Someone stole my heifer.
Had the nerve to back a truck
right up to the barn and coax
my gentle Betty out of her stall.
She wasn’t afraid of anyone—
she’d been shown at the fair
and was used to people.
She was halter broke.
Could be led anywhere.
Was tame as a puppy.
She’ll probably end up as
black market beef.
My poor sweet Betty.
I hope whoever snatched her
chokes on her bones.

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Poster courtesy Northwestern University Library.

4 comments:

I'm Jet . . . said...: Oh no!; November 25, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Andrea Murphy said...: Poor Betty! Poor Adele!; November 25, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Linda B said...: I can't imagine how dreadful it would be, & how desperate people can be. This is a shout of a poem, pure disgust at mankind, and sadness at all the loss.; November 25, 2011 at 5:56 PM
Diane Mayr said...: This was based on a story a women told me about her heifer being stolen. Can you imagine how hard it must have been for her to accept?; November 25, 2011 at 6:51 PM