Гроздья гнева

           Thosefamilieswhichwereveryrichorveryfoolishwiththeirmoneyatecannedbeansandcannedpeachesandpackagedbreadandbakerycake;buttheyatesecretly,intheirtents,foritwouldnothavebeengoodtoeatsuchfinethingsopenly.Evenso,childreneatingtheirfrieddoughsmelledthewarmingbeansandwereunhappyaboutit.

           Whensupperwasoverandthedishesdippedandwiped,thedarkhadcome,andthenthemensquatteddowntotalk.

           Andtheytalkedofthelandbehindthem.Idon’tknowwhatit’scomingto,theysaid.Thecountry’sspoilt.

           It’llcomebackthough,on’ywewon’tbethere.

           Maybe,theythought,maybewesinnedsomewaywedidn’tknowabout.Fellasaystome,gov’mentfella,an’hesays,she’sgullieduponya.Gov’mentfella.Hesays,ifyaplowed’crossthecontour,shewon’tgully.Neverdidhavenochancetotryher.An’thenewsuper’ain’tplowin’’crossthecontour.Runnin’afurrowfourmileslongthatain’tstoppin’orgoin’aroun’JesusChristHisself.

           Andtheyspokesoftlyoftheirhomes:Theywasalittlecool-houseunderthewin’mill.Use’takeepmilkintheretacreamup,an’watermelons.Gointheremiddaywhenshewashotter’naheifer,an’she’dbejus’ascool,ascoolasyou’dwant.Cutopenamelonintherean’she’dhurtyourmouth,shewassocool.Waterdrippin’downfromthetank.

           Theyspokeoftheirtragedies:HadabrotherCharley,hairasyellaascorn,an’himagrowedman.Playedthe’cordeennicetoo.