The Plum

[oneighty]

Carl and I came upon the plum in the overgrown fields of a dying farm. The home had already fallen to the earth. The nearby forest is approaching the very last plum tree in the old orchard.

On the last plum tree in the orchard is also the very last plum. It is swollen fat with the resources of nature, purple-black, glistening in the morning sun. The last of the dew collects into beads of water on the plum, drips down to the ground.

The plum is removed from the tree, Carl and I share the wonderful treat, juices in our mouths and on our chins, the pulpy fruit is tender,sweet the skin is tougher, not sweet, a bit sour.

Licking our fingers clean we move on to our next adventure on that long ago day.

180

[JitterbugPerfume]

1. another sweet story

from oneighty

what I wouldn't give to be a kid again <sigh>

[cmd]

2. Lucky to live in an orchard

In addition to being a coalminer, my dad also farmed 75 acres. Part of those acres were in an apple orchard with some very old apple trees. As the trees died off Dad replaced them with peaches, plum, pear and cherry trees. The edges of the orchard were rows of raspberry bushes. Our house sat in the middle.

It was my good forture to be able to go outside and pick the ripest, sweetest, juiciest fruit almost any time of the year. I cherish the memory of those warm peaches oozing with goodness. Our freezer was always filled with fruit. There were many times when our family was broke. We often shared three or four pork chops among eight of us; but we always had lots of homegrown fruit.

[oneighty]

3. And to-day

our children will never know the flavors of natural foods. Corporations have made all foods enduring, almost plastic, devoid of life.

How fortunate you were Coalminersdaughter. (Except for the coal mines part)

180

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. Hey Ed

you told me once that you liked this poem Remember?

Post Humus

by Patti Tanna
scatter my ashes in my garden,so I can be near my loves
say a few honest words,
sing a gentle song
join hands in a circle of flesh
Please tell some stories about me
making you laugh
I love to make you laugh
and when I have had time to settle,and green gathers into buds,
remember that I loved blossoms bursting in Spring
As the season ripens,
remember my persistant passion

and if you come into my gardenon an August Afternoon
pluck a bright red globe
let the juice run down your chin,
and let the seeds stick to your cheeks
When I am dead I want folks to smile and say
That Jitterbug,she sure was some tomato

[oneighty]

8. Yes!

Cute poem.

Ms. JitterbugPerfume is some "Tomato"

Hee! Hee!

180

[bearfan454]

6. Fruit along with a little meat is VERY healthy.

It is. I could go for that.

[MaryBear]

5. Once again,

thanks for sharing, Ed.

:hi:

on edit:
You, too, Jitterbug!

[JitterbugPerfume]

7. you are welcome

<smile>