Papaver Somniferum

Papaver somniferum,
the innocent poppy
did not create the need.

Greed did,
opium
feeds it.

The destitute
Afghani farmer
with his 100sq metres

in flower knows
the one way how
to feed his family –

sure, Islam forbids it,
so he doesn’t use
the sap he harvests,

might eat some seeds
instead, they make
great bread. But unlike

Governments
the guys who buy
the dried resin

pay cash
and they
don’t make waves.
© 5 March, 2007 I.D. Carswell