haystack candy

soaring through
the topography of my childhood
route 27
a
thunder road
of
familiar wonders
hidden but to the locals
treasure
fecund hills of pine and cedar
drunken on the other worldly glow of the green lush
the clouds making finger puppet shadows
in blackberry fields
country
untouched
these
creeks keep their cherokee names
away we travel
to science hill
past the house where my father
took his last breath
but i smile
at the belonging
no tears to cry
for we are off
to visit
the burkholder clan
an amish hillside pantry
of earthly delights
i walk the rows finding
delicious herbs
marigolds the color of the sunlight
marinated mushrooms
sixteen bean soup
pumpkin butter
oatmeal soap
molasses and sorghum
and honey still filling it’s combs
coconut caramel confections
haystack candy
and cheese from smiling cows
a hand painted gourd
to give a wren a summer home
and tomatoes for salt shaker noshing
all this and a broom
but it is my soul
who is wearing a bonnet
it is
indeed
good
to
be
home