A Drive And Surprise In The Country Poem by Deanna Samuels

A drive in the country on this crisp sunny sparkling day
Snow laying on the vast expanse of fields beginning to melt
Leaving patches of bare faded brown stalks of a harvest long gone
Countrified roads and lanes that were recently awash with a frosty icing
Transformed to a clear and dry surface from verge to verge
With sun shining above, wended through this late winter country scene
Before long, came to the small town of Orono
Firstly driving alongside turn of the century brick and gabled houses
Handsome and prestigiously built and lovingly cared for
Arrived presently at centre of town - a surprise!
It was almost, just almost, as though time had stood still
Save that of the latest style of today's vehicles parked along Main Street
And tell-tale signs of street and sidewalk modernity
Businesses with old fashioned store fronts made up the heart of this country town
Several antique shops, a general store of a hundred years or more
An assortment of merchants to service and supply the townsfolk
AND - lo and behold - a Dutch Bakery! A genuine Dutch Bakery
What a perfect time to sample a pastry and cup of refreshing tea
Walking into the store, aromas swirled of multitudes of freshly baked goods
Immediately evoking gastronomical juices to the highest degree
Display cabinets were filled with mouth-watering delectable edibles
Tarts, buns, gingerbread, shortbread, cheesecake, jam filled doughnuts
Turnovers, brownies, maple twists, squares and fairy cakes of flavored icing
Varieties of fresh white and whole wheat breads lined two rows of shelves
Another storing yummy gateaux, fruit pies and to-die-for tortes
The contemplation of making a choice of pastry took several minutes
Finally, a decision made, still ogling all the other choices that could have been
One apple toffee tart square and one very gooey chocolatey brownie
An Orange pekoe and a speciality lemon chai tea completed the order
A tea room was open upstairs reached by a moderately steep wooden staircase
Pictures and artifacts lined the stair walls, most were available for sale
The room upstairs doubled as a tea room and shop with general paraphernalia
Small kitchenware utensils, tea cozies, tea towels and some cookware
An extensive selection of knickknacks, many in the blue and white Delft design
Clogs too, as ornaments or made as wearable footware in soft or leather material
The room also contained chair and small tables covered with wine red tablecloths
Windows overlooked the Main Street giving sight of the town shops opposite
Sat down and enjoyed the choice of pastry and a good cup of tea
Not a morsel was left, not a crumb, both squares utterly delicious
Soon, it was time to go and be on the road once again to head back home
What a delicious way to complete a delightful drive and surprise in the country


Written in Durham Region and Richmond Hill, Ontario - 9th March 2019