Poetry · Chapter
B. F. Affleck explained
A short poem celebrating the connection between poor road conditions and the future demand for Portland Cement, presented from the perspective of B.
What happens
A short poem celebrating the connection between poor road conditions and the future demand for Portland Cement, presented from the perspective of B. F. Affleck, president of the Universal Portland Cement Company.
Themes in this chapter
Work and Profession
The poem reflects a professional's perspective on how poor roads benefit the cement industry.
Humor and Satire
The poem uses humor to invert the usual complaint about bad roads into a positive for business.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The speaker of the poem, expressing a wry appreciation for bumpy roads.
Key passages
“Bum roads don’t please me worth a cent, But they make quite a hit with this gent. Every jar, every bump, Every hollow or hump Means a future for Portland Cement.”
I don't like rough roads at all, but they actually benefit me because each bump and pothole creates a need for more cement to repair them.
The narrator explains the ironic advantage of poor road conditions for the cement business.