The rich hoard all things Earth.
In the15th century this ripe,
juicy, red delicacy turned deadly
for the upper classes.
As they dined at fancy dinners,
the privileged avoided them
like the plague.
Not so the poor. The abundant
tomatoes enriched their fare
and helped their waifs bloom.
Was this some kind of heavenly justice—
God giving a hand up
to the broken and downtrodden?
The expensive pewter dishes,
metal mixing with the tomato acid,
produced the deadly poison.
The wooden plates of the poor
were safe as they squished
the delicious into their mouths
and were thankful.
Originally published in Rat's Ass Review