Raising Civilization

Ten thousand years ago men took to ploughs

To train wild grass to flourish tame and fat.

Men didn’t know that drilling seeds would rouse

The walls of cities, brewing hops in vat,

And stewing barley (whisky).  Men grew drunk

Not just on booze but also kingship, slimes

Like  royalty.  Humanity had shrunk

To worshipers of royalty and crimes

Like that.  The consequences of those fields

Of corn and wheat included emperors

And operas.  Back then who knew the yields

Would comprehend gun-barrel temperers?

  The ultimate results? Enola Gay

    And Little Boy, not just a crop of hay.