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Open Poetry #47
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Pawpaw's Porch
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Pawpaw's Porch |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana 
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A wonderful notion came to me today Playing through my thoughts like a ballet A time in the past it did playfully speak About an old porch in Walkers Creek. My pawpaw and mawmaw lived there Eking out what the earth would share. Following a stubborn mule down a row Putting food on the table, pie ala crow. A hard life of back-breaking chores Just after the Second World War. Plowing corn, pulling cotton to weigh Hardly a smile except come Sunday. Ahh, Sunday, that's when the kids came Bringing grandchildren to great acclaim. And old wood stove puts out fried chicken Purple hull peas, cathead biscuits for sopping. They all gather on the front porch to chat Built three feet off the ground at that. It’s a good time, women gossip loose lips While the men sneak round back for a nip. Smelly old aunts with their tipsy husbands Rock and fan and laugh like they planned. Mason jars are never empty of good sweet tea Or spring fed water so cold its minus degrees. As the shadows begin to lengthen at days end An ice cream maker is fetched a voice says amen. Smiles grow on the faces of the young and old We are about to get something nice and cold. Grandma makes up the vanilla batter Pours it all in the aluminum canister. Seals it and puts it in the wooden barrel Add chunks of ice, salt, cranked by a male. By the time the ice cream is finally done Two pairs of shoulders weighs almost a ton. But the result is so scrumptious and fine Everybody pigs out like smelly old swine. Later, stomachs boated, they gather up Their things to go, don't forget Millie's pup. Go their separate ways until next Sunday When back to pawpaw's porch they'll play. ~*~ Tell me whom you love, and I will tell you who you are.--Houssaye ~*~ |
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| © Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Wow... my grandmother had an old handcrank ice cream maker. What a chore that was, but never met with a complaint either. Thanks for rekindling a good memory in me. That's not an easy chore either ya know.  Michael |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
I have memories like that! Well, not the cathead biscuts...but the ice cream and Sunday dinner at the farm. Thanks for the big smile you gave me. Lori |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Oh yeah, Michael, I couldn't wait until I was old enough to crack that handle. It didn't take me too long to understand what working for the treat meant. Appreciate the comment. ~*~ Tell me whom you love, and I will tell you who you are.--Houssaye ~*~ |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
You're quite welcomed Lori, and thank you for the read and comments. ~*~ Tell me whom you love, and I will tell you who you are.--Houssaye ~*~ |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
You brought back such memories! *S* All of us kids thought we were vital to the ice cream making process because... while the men took turns on the crank... we took turns holding the thing steady! LOL I guess it saved a lot of "is it ready yet?" nagging! LOL Enjoyed this! |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Haha! Yeah, it probably did save all the "is it ready yet" pleas, but still, holding that darn thing steady was vital for the operation too. Thank you, suthern, I'm glad I could bring to back to pleasant times. ~*~ Tell me whom you love, and I will tell you who you are.--Houssaye ~*~ |
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
Enjoyed your childhood memories, JP2, Ms. E |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thank you, Ms. E. ~*~ Tell me whom you love, and I will tell you who you are.--Houssaye ~*~ |
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