Poetry · Chapter
The Farmer’s Prayer explained
A satirical prayer in which a farmer appeals to God for rain, complaining of unfair distribution of rainfall and asking for divine punishment on those who pray for higher corn prices, while revealing self-serving motives.
What happens
A satirical prayer in which a farmer appeals to God for rain, complaining of unfair distribution of rainfall and asking for divine punishment on those who pray for higher corn prices, while revealing self-serving motives.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
The farmer's prayer is hypocritical, asking for justice while wishing harm on others and prioritizing personal profit over communal fairness.
Political Satire
The poem satirizes self-interested prayer and the selective application of religious morality to economic grievances.
Key passages
“O Lord, incline Thine ear unto our prayer And preachers’ intercession: This strange discrimination is unfair— That’s our impression.”
The farmer complains that God is unfairly withholding rain from his land while giving it to others.
Opens with a complaint of divine favoritism.
“We’re just, and still our whistles are not wet, And still ’tis growing hotter; While every scamp in Michigan can get His fill of water.”
The farmer claims he and his neighbors are righteous yet suffer drought, while undeserving people in Michigan enjoy abundant rain.
Highlights the perceived injustice and the farmer's self-righteousness.
“And those who pray for an advance in corn— O smite them silly!”
The farmer asks God to punish those who pray for higher corn prices.
Reveals the farmer's wish for cheap corn to benefit his own crops and sales.
“We’ve sold our wheat: that profitable crop’s Beyond Thy power.”
The farmer boasts that his wheat is already sold, implying God cannot affect that profit.
Shows the farmer's arrogance and material focus.