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Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

0 posted 2008-04-01 01:17 PM

Mom
and six-year-old Felix
get up at four-thirty
every morning,
the bus picks them up
in the hood
at five.

It will take them
across the big bridge
to big garden in Jersey.

The crew boss likes Mom,
he smiles and touches her.
Felix doesn’t like that.

They get to the farm,
start their day
of picking strawberries.

It’s cold in the morning,
and Felix shivers.

It’s piece work,
so Mom and Felix work
as fast as they can.

It’s hard work,
their backs get tired,
and their knees hurt.

By noon,
the sun gets hot,
it makes them miserable.

They work
until the sun
goes down.

Felix hates it.
Felix hates
everything about it.

They don’t get paid enough.

Felix has to make more money.

There is more money
in doing other things,
than picking damned
strawberries.

bobby

[This message has been edited by Robert E. Jordan (04-01-2008 06:46 PM).]

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

1 posted 2008-04-01 01:27 PM

I understand that this job was very very hard, dear Bobby! Piece work was and probably still is somewhere, tremendous, no moments to relax.
And even the wonderful strawberries can be hated when collecting them brings such pain.

And I also understand that, though in tender age, little Felix did not like the man who touched his mom.

Very tough reality write that can't be ignored.

Love,
Margherita

effjayel
Senior Member

since 2007-09-30

Posts 1474
At the Crossroads of Infinity

2 posted 2008-04-01 03:32 PM

I can relate to this, when I was younger, it was potatoes I had to pick, very hard work for not too much money, I could never have done the alternatives that Felix has had to do to survive...I think I would have wasted away for fear of trying. Good job Bobby, John

Seoulair
Senior Member

since 2008-03-27

Posts 807
Seoul S.Korea

3 posted 2008-04-01 03:39 PM

understand.

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4 posted 2008-04-01 03:43 PM

I'm out of this lame place.

Robert E. Jordan

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

5 posted 2008-04-01 06:47 PM

I put this one back up, because I feel it's important.

Bobby

LindsayP
Member Elite

since 2007-07-28

Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria

6 posted 2008-04-01 08:54 PM

You should go and pick strawberries Bobby

and give your poor old mum a spell and

leave Felix with her to keep her company.

Lindsay

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

7 posted 2008-04-01 09:19 PM

LindsayP,

Awww, that's a sweet thought.

Been to the farm, done all that stuff. Thanks, but I'll pass on that.

Mom died back around 1980, she was 83.

Bobby

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant

since 2000-01-29

Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia

8 posted 2008-04-01 09:20 PM

thanks Bobby.. yes, it is important, and I'm sorry to have missed it the first time.... I think Felix and his Mom make a great team... love RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

9 posted 2008-04-01 09:38 PM

Dear RDB,

Thanks for the kind word.

People in the U. S. tend to forget where their prosperity, and inexpensive food supply comes from.

It basically comes from the backs of slave labor.

Bobby

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

10 posted 2008-04-01 09:54 PM

I know something about strawberries. When my Dad couldn't find work when I was little.
(this was in Oregon) it rained a lot, not good for construction work, my parents picked strawberries or trained hops. I watched the kids in and around the car. Long days.
Ida

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

11 posted 2008-04-01 10:05 PM

Ida,

No aspect of field work is fun. However, someone has to do it, or we all starve.

It should pay more.

Bobby

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

12 posted 2008-04-02 05:42 PM

Enjoyed...reminded me of one summer when I was scheduled to pick peaches or pears and I had a motorcycle accident about 3 days before and was in a knee cast instead...
I remember taking a girl that I just met to the drive-in movies. Trying to make out in the front seat of a car with a knee cast is kind of hard...James

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

13 posted 2008-04-02 05:52 PM

James,

Thanks for reading and commenting. You're lucky you missed out on field work. It no fun at all. It pays lousey too.

Bobby

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