Dear Cousin

Tasha


DEAR COUSIN

I won’t write much tonight,
I’ve been working all day picking.
This is my third day in the fields.
Day one was fun.
All of us girls rode out
to the farm in a truck.
It was gossip, gossip,
gossip, all day long.
Day two was okay.
We were a little stiff
from bending over the day before,
but, still we talked,
and sang lots of songs.
Today is day three.
My fingers have blisters.
Every bone in my body aches.
I’m tired of singing songs.
And, I’m tired of listening
to those girls TALK!
I told mother I’m happy
to help bring in the harvest.
But between you and me,
I’d rather be back at school.

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo courtesy Library of Congress. Poster courtesy Northwestern U. Library.