The Carrot Poem by Eugene Levich

Just in case you're out of the loop, on February 3rd, every year,
The United States of America celebrates NATIONAL CARROT DAY.
National WHAT Day?
'Why celebrate carrots? ' I thought, watching this ABC TV news flash at 7 AM while working out in the Gym.
Should carrots be celebrated like the birthdays of Washington, Lincoln, and Martin Luther King?
Should carrots receive the same respect as veterans of Iwo Jima and Normandy on Veterans Day?
'Who came up with such a silly idea as National Carrot Day? ' I thought.
But, later, I reconsidered:
After all, carrots never purposely harmed anyone, at least no one I know of...
In today's world that's no insignificant accomplishment.
Carrots are humble, earthy, inoffensive, unassuming, and seem to turn the other cheek when insulted.
And (according to the Internet) , they're very, very good for you:
They prevent cancer and heart disease and
Help you see in the dark,
And (if Bugs Bunny is any example) , they impart an ironic sense of humor.
(Bugs Bunny's endorsements rate highly with me;
Who's he voting for in the coming election?)
I thought of the carrot-topped girl in my high school math class...
Well, never mind...
Certainly, I thought, the carrot is better than the stick
When used in diplomacy...
In service to humanity.
And then I thought of the Tao.
What would Laozi or Zhuangzi or Winnie the Pooh have thought of
National Carrot Day?
The Tao celebrates the importance of the seemingly unimportant and humble.
What is the most important part of a pot?
The emptiness inside it:
Without that seemingly useless emptiness, the pot itself would be useless.
So, for the sweetness carrots add to a stew,
For the freshness carrots give to a salad,
For the income carrots give to farmers, truckers, and grocers
For the noses carrots give to snowmen,
All over the world,
I will henceforth happily celebrate
National Carrot Day.
I hope you will too.

Copyright 26Feb16 Eugene Levich