aayoungmy stomach growls
for Kentucky cookin’
church pot lucks of the past
made by old pin curled women
in floral dresses
no longer living
laid out
upon Christian hobbled tables
beneath a giant oak tree
no longer standing
baked beans
macaroni salad
fried chicken
pineapple upside down cake
deviled eggs
damned fine eatin’
and believe you me
no one
can devil an egg
like a Baptist
the sun rose
out of the orange juice
on the table this morning
bee bop
to the pop of the
coffee pot
kitty pacing figure eights
under the wagglin’ pit bull
wearing a fur coat of the same orange color
mama is fryin’ brown eggs
in the skillet while kitchen dancing
freshly washed cherries float up from the collander to the beat of the roxy music
twin boys smiling constellations
over a plate of steaming scratch biscuits
taking in this sunday morning overture
of the opera that is this beautiful life
genus Rheum
species rhabarbarum
more commonly
referred to as rhubarb
a coveted plant
perfect for the filling of hearts and bellies
morning constitutional midway
standing in the glow of a misty sunrise
amidst the lawn and garden
section of the old country
i press flowers
and things with plans to be fruitful
into my sketchbook of recipes
there is a peach tree where memaw
threw her
peach pits at the corner of the ancient fence line
determined it grew and brings with it
housewarming gifts
a pear tree with a partridge
a strawberry patch with grinning blossoms
and cabbage already reaching for the son in the garden
roses
french hollyhocks
mandevilla climbing the light post
irises
lilies
rhododendron
and my grandmother’s
beautiful grapevines
further past the pines
much to my surprise
a patch of
distinguished sturdy rhubarb
when the calendar
is correct
i shall make a pie
baked for sharing
all my love
apron strings full
rolling pin ballet in flour
homemade
welcome mats
are for
using