Гроздья гнева

           Theyellowjacketsdigintothesoftmeat,andthereisasmelloffermentandrot.

           Thenthegrapes—wecan’tmakegoodwine.Peoplecan’tbuygoodwine.Ripthegrapesfromthevines,goodgrapes,rottengrapes,wasp-stunggrapes.Pressstems,pressdirtandrot.

           Butthere’smildewandformicacidinthevats.Addsulphurandtannicacid.Thesmellfromthefermentisnottherichodorofwine,butthesmellofdecayandchemicals.Oh,well.Ithasalcoholinit,anyway.Theycangetdrunk.Thelittlefarmerswatcheddebtcreepuponthemlikethetide.Theysprayedthetreesandsoldnocrop,theyprunedandgraftedandcouldnotpickthecrop.Andthemenofknowledgehaveworked,haveconsidered,andthefruitisrottingontheground,andthedecayingmashinthewinevatispoisoningtheair.Andtastethewine—nograpeflavoratall,justsulphurandtannicacidandalcohol.

           Thislittleorchardwillbeapartofagreatholdingnextyear,forthedebtwillhavechokedtheowner.

           Thisvineyardwillbelongtothebank.Onlythegreatownerscansurvive,fortheyownthecanneries,too.Andfourpearspeeledandcutinhalf,cookedandcanned,stillcostfifteencents.Andthecannedpearsdonotspoil.Theywilllastforyears.

           ThedecayspreadsovertheState,andthesweetsmellisagreatsorrowontheland.Menwhocangraftthetreesandmaketheseedfertileandbigcanfindnowaytoletthehungrypeopleeattheirproduce.Menwhohavecreatednewfruitsintheworldcannotcreateasystemwherebytheirfruitsmaybeeaten.