Гроздья гнева

           Littlesourappleshavegrownlargeandsweet,andthatoldgrapethatgrewamongthetreesandfedthebirdsitstinyfruithasmotheredathousandvarieties,redandblack,greenandpalepink,purpleandyellow;andeachvarietywithitsownflavor.Themenwhoworkintheexperimentalfarmshavemadenewfruits:nectarinesandfortykindsofplums,walnutswithpapershells.Andalwaystheywork,selecting,grafting,changing,drivingthemselves,drivingtheearthtoproduce.

           Andfirstthecherriesripen.Centandahalfapound.Hell,wecan’tpick’emforthat.Blackcherriesandredcherries,fullandsweet,andthebirdseathalfofeachcherryandtheyellowjacketsbuzzintotheholesthebirdsmade.Andonthegroundtheseedsdropanddrywithblackshredshangingfromthem.

           Thepurpleprunessoftenandsweeten.MyGod,wecan’tpickthemanddryandsulphurthem.Wecan’tpaywages,nomatterwhatwages.Andthepurpleprunescarpettheground.Andfirsttheskinswrinklealittleandswarmsoffliescometofeast,andthevalleyisfilledwiththeodorofsweetdecay.Themeatturnsdarkandthecropshrivelsontheground.

           Andthepearsgrowyellowandsoft.Fivedollarsaton.Fivedollarsforfortyfifty-poundboxes;treesprunedandsprayed,orchardscultivated—pickthefruit,putitinboxes,loadthetrucks,deliverthefruittothecannery—fortyboxesforfivedollars.Wecan’tdoit.Andtheyellowfruitfallsheavilytothegroundandsplashesontheground.