
Well Preserved
Our backyard was like paradise, in my childhood
Kids would meet here, from all around the neighbourhood
Room enough to kick a footy, and play cricket
There was a great peppercorn tree to climb, and a huge berry thicket
Also large fruit trees, peaches, apricots and pears
I remember the loganberry vine, thorns like spears
And plucking the purple berries, our arms protected by hessian bags
The fruit picking season would be so much fun
Best of all, was scaling the loaded fruit trees
Clambering up through the middle trunks
Higher and higher, going from branch to branch
Stretching full-out to pick the ripened sweets
Filling the carry baskets, and our pockets too
Like fruit lollies, succulent and juicy, always eating three or two !
Mum would diligently de-stone and half them all
Carefully stacking them in glass jars, standing so tall
Cooking for hours, in the giant Vacola Boiler pot
The lids were sealed and clamped while still hot
Preserved as our dinner sweets for many months to come
During those years of joy, under the backyard sun
Ivor Steven (c) November 2017
Featured Photo: -simplebites.net
Sincere thanks to, Michelle, of “Her Writing Haven”, for being the inspiration and encouragement behind these words, while I was having a few days of rest away from my writing desk. Please read her poem, “Writers Unite !”
What beautiful memories of your childhood. Lovely poem Ivor.
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I enjoy writing these sort of poems, about my childhood…. I was one of the lucky kids, who had a wonderful childhood …
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That’s really great 👍
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A perfect sunny day memory. Wishing I could taste test the preserves 😊
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There were delicious, wow.. home-made preserves.. they were the days.. 😊💙🌏
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