Brown hands scoop and crack ashy rock
hundreds of miles from the Himalayas.
They toil, stiff and crusted like old statues
in caverns far from the sea.
*
While they excavate,
foreign companies evaluate
the good and bad
mounds of salt.
*
Old dump trucks fill and carry away spoils.
We fill our spice cabinets and our spas,
but do we ever stop to think?
We just want the pink
*
salt that comes neither from the sea
nor the mountains. They say
it’s good for us, though I wonder
if those choking on its dust would agree.
*
Hungry mouths lead to empty bellies
and so they go underground,
doing that which must be done
to appease the gods of consumption.
*
Human beings fill crystal caves,
slaving away, cutting, sawing, drilling.
We buy, dine, sprinkle, look, touch;
groping for ayurvedic benefits.
*
We feast on the harvest of others,
seasoning our lives with their sweat and blood,
thinking that our wants fill their wallets and
distant lands have no purpose without us.
*
All we need is the rosy dust,
the raw flavor, not the fresh wounds carved
from rusty tools and gunpowder. We think coins will
fill the holes, but they don’t. They never do.
About the Creator
Randy Baker
Poet, author, essayist.
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Comments (10)
Ugh the reminder that everything we have, all the privilege is on the backs of those who are not, and I wish I knew how to fix it!
A "bull's eye" of an insightful poem! You hit this out the park Randy. A 'pay-attention-to-your-consumption' poetic piece speaks volumes.
You're right we really don't think about those that work in the fields and mines of the world to bring us the foods we consume. I know that most likely these workers are underpaid and that is a shame. I guess those of us in wealthier nations should feel guilty but what will that accomplish? The photo image you generated is beautiful. We can strive and somehow work toward ensuring workers, in underdeveloped nations get a fair wage for their work.
We never do think of them, do we? What a messed up world.
This made me think (and feel guilty): Great job! We do take things for granted in our life. I have never thought about how we get salt. I felt guilty like this during a sociology class where I had to look up the labor practices of certain companies. It was an eye-opener. Thanks for making us think!
Interesting topic for a poem. Lots of opportunities to read between the lines. And... The photo is stunning! Bravo!
Excellent words making me think of wants and needs
Oooo, this was so profound and beautifully written! Loved your poem!
Beautiful, the image is amazing as well!🥰
The photo is mesmerizing! Great poem Randy! ❤️