Tobacco Picking Near Motueka. Comments

So tobacco is 'evil'? I was never a 'smoker' but worked around enough at times, enough meaning at least one. But i feel smokers derive benefits from smoking (sometimes at least) , a calming effect perhaps, which may make up for some of the negatives, like burning in a house fire, or getting cancer or emphysema! A person in a formerly 'big tobacco-growing state' in the U.S. told me, or i read it, that before pesticides etc., tobacco 'never caused cancer'. to MyPoemList bri :)

I cannot see your 5 poems posted as yet. M.Walker.

Hmmm.... never done a villanelle before. You did a good job with this one. I would invite you to read my poems (I have five of them) but my account is new and Poem Hunter has not activated them yet. I don't understand this. I thought people would be able to read them at once when they were posted!

You made the villanelle form work (no pun intended) in this poem, Michael—the repetitions flow naturally. -Glen

I loved the feeling and images in your poem. It tells an important early story. It has the flavor of the South Island. I have been there.

'I picked the larger green leaves at ground level first, moving along the rows and up the plants to smaller ones' history past, the government outlawed the crop, a have a friend who lives next to be empty former tobacco drying sheds, empty of everything except air

A well crafted narrative Michael. I enjoyed it. Thank you.

I had a similar baptism cutting duboisia leaves in 1974 for medicinal drugs near Kingaroy. A longer-standing employee went a bit crazy and I decided to quit before I did too. Written in a matter-of-fact style that's quite intriguing. You've moved on.

A nice evocation of a memorable experience and an effective, poetic, slice of life. Bien fait!

All those years ago no one thought. Interesting write

Picking tobacco for long time at last you realized the negatives of its is really amazing poem of awareness. Nicely penned.