Гроздья гнева

           Thenthewaterpouredoverthehighways,andcarsmovedslowly,cuttingthewaterahead,andleavingaboilingmuddywakebehind.Theearthwhisperedunderthebeatoftherain,andthestreamsthunderedunderthechurningfreshets.

           Whenthefirstrainstarted,themigrantpeoplehuddledintheirtents,saying,It’llsoonbeover,andasking,Howlong’sitlikelytogoon?

           Andwhenthepuddlesformed,themenwentoutintherainwithshovelsandbuiltlittledikesaroundthetents.Thebeatingrainworkedatthecanvasuntilitpenetratedandsentstreamsdown.Andthenthelittledikeswashedoutandthewatercameinside,andthestreamswetthebedsandtheblankets.Thepeoplesatinwetclothes.Theysetupboxesandputplanksontheboxes.Then,dayandnight,theysatontheplanks.

           Besidethetentstheoldcarsstood,andwaterfouledtheignitionwiresandwaterfouledthecarburetors.Thelittlegraytentsstoodinlakes.Andatlastthepeoplehadtomove.Thenthecarswouldn’tstartbecausethewireswereshorted;andiftheengineswouldrun,deepmudengulfedthewheels.Andthepeoplewadedaway,carryingtheirwetblanketsintheirarms.Theysplashedalong,carryingthechildren,carryingtheveryold,intheirarms.Andifabarnstoodonhighground,itwasfilledwithpeople,shiveringandhopeless.

           Thensomewenttothereliefoffices,andtheycamesadlybacktotheirownpeople.

           They’srules—yougottobehereayearbeforeyoucangitrelief.Theysaythegov’mentisgonnahelp.Theydon’knowwhen.