Ecology

Environmentalism was new then
and farmers still conservative
two colours black and white.
Green ?
Only the US dollar.

Smoking held a majority at the time
yet to be reviled or evicted from the staffroom
tobacco important to the local economy
and well connected
25% local content mandatory. Government decree.

Here five hours from Antarctica
cultivation was fragile
subject to growing pains
not known in
Virginia, Cuba and the Carolinas.

Just as a single name is totemic
Elvis, Yoko, Napoleon
chemical infamy is denoted by
a crisp sequence of letters and or digit’s
full name never necessary. DDT

Invented for mosquitoes
but they cracked the code years before
now used on less wily opponents
but beginning to wrinkle environmental brows.
Hero becomes villain
as fashion becomes ridicule.

It was only a matter of time
rumour reckoned it had overheard a ban.
A just unwrapped alternative
cleverly plagiarized from plants
solution and problem
its warnings easily read
even by species below the median.

Carpet bombing was out
deception the new strategy
barley and rye or oats to be mixed in.
A farmer, brown of corduroy and red of face stands
a spokesman it seems.
he understands progress
and the need to change, “ but muesli for grubs.”
Laughter silences the Silent Spring.