“The Cover Crop”

A lady came to make some cards,
Three sheets there were – did not look hard;
“Some time I need, we’re out of stock,
A quarter hour – go take a walk”

I phoned for help – the margins tight,
The print was skewed, I made it right;
With scans, finesse, and software switch,
We pulled it off – she got her wish.

“No charge”, I said, ‘twas our mistake”
“No charge – I cannot product take –
I’ll give amount I always give,
I pay my way – it’s how I live”.

“Okay” – for it’s a giver’s life –
“Be not beholden in your life”;
Exchange that’s meaningful it seems
Is core to them – it’s what life means.

Such people come and go I see,
And what’s exchanged’s a joke to me,
For price and product’s out of line –
Ridiculous – we’re doing fine.

Most customers have gone their way;
Four months for us will see the day
Non-competition clause runs out,
And life can be what life’s about –

A fair exchange, though skewed today,
With margins tight in global way
Of doing work – like Chinese books –
The product’s nice, at least in looks –

For books produced on Chinese soil,
With trees from here, fueled by our oil,
Have labor costs quite good they say –
It takes our jobs – the global way.

So Cheaper Cheeper is the way
The global village, here today,
Is made quite clear to all who pass –
I make no pay – that’s why I laugh.

But here I learn “augmented text”
My output – form for product next;
I keep the shop doors open wide;
Get on my horse, go for a ride –

I have my alphabetic sign –
“This week is brought to you”, my line,
“By letter ‘A’, like TV show –
Examples share, some word like “O” –

“Oppressor” is the word this week –
A quote I add “Oppressed all seek
Not to oppressor overthrow,
But be oppressor, power know”.

And in behind I software learn,
While yesterday my first pay earned
In fair exchange – my quality
Made visible – results I see –

From months of work to bend the foe
Of lagging skill – in skill I grow –
“Creative Suite” is huge and yet
It bends to mind – results I get.

I learned to scan to fit a size;
A poem blend – and realized
Augmented text can work for me,
As work-flow forms to meet each need.

Now Photoshop is just a part,
While Illustrator brings its art
Into a stream to InDesign,
Which makes augmented text of mine.

All that’s to bring the darkroom back –
Now text and photos rise to that
Sweet culture-code I’d seen before –
How “mystery” went out the door –

With digital – now it comes back –
Augmented text attends to that –
Forthright the authenticity
Conveyed this way through mystery”.

That is my product – service now;
No low-paid worker will allow
The work I do to fall in price –
Augmented text – it’s all quite nice.

Sure, artifact is made somewhere,
And price for that they will compare;
But word and photo blend with us –
Can’t be outsourced – that’s artist’s touch.

So, “Share and share alike”, I say,
Let global village in to play;
Stand back and view the larger scene,
Adjustment’s tough from where we’ve been –

We’ve had it nice for decades now –
No wars; high tariffs did allow
Oasis-life with standards high –
That’s gone – now mourned with gentle sigh.

So Cheaper Cheeper’s cover crop
For structured life – not what we’ve got,
But what’s ahead for all mankind –
Adjusted life that comes to mind.

New rules; new game; new context now;
New players on our field allow
All people of the world to play –
Justice brings end to just-us day.

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