Herbert Nehrlich - Ergot

Lard and drippings were,
since birth and early days
their daily fare, security.
Then Kellogg changed all that
by talking common folk
into forsaking meat and eggs.
He had been told by God
that evil lay in frequent fornication.

A great example, standing tall,
townspeople saw him chew
all day and into nights
those righteous grains;
grown in Wisconsin fields by God.

It was a scorching August day
when, in a sea of corn he found
to his surprise and with a heavy heart
a single blade, nearly a stalk
of Northern wheat, just ripe.

It was curiosity that summer day
and sweet temptation in its subtle way.
But when the tiny particles, well chewed
arrived inside his gut, it was too late.
The ergot devil was not celibate at all.

Herbert Nehrlich

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ergot/