Sweet Cherries Poem by Marianne Reninger

Mamaw tells the story of how it used to be,
In a special time and special place
When she was a kid like me.
'Imagine a shady grove of trees, under dark branches I do sit;
Overhead are little fruit umbrellas, and
Blue skies can barely peak through it.
Bees buzz and sunlight streams down,
Like dusty ribbons of dancing light, that
Sweep to the mossy green ground.
My mouth begins to water, sweet cherries hang up high.
I must get a wooden ladder, and climb clear way up to the sky!
My Daddy says, 'Caution; don't you slip and fall.'
I place the ladder carefully, and then I become so tall!
I hold my pail so firmly, and the handle I do swing.
I fill it up quite quickly, and sweet cherries I will carry
To Mama, who will tell me, always the same old thing.
'You eat more cherries, than your pail will hold, and a stomach
Ache they'll bring! '
Other kids loved the sparklers n fireworks from July the Fourth,
But I loved Fredonia, N.Y. and our cherry adventures up north! '

(An exerpt from 'Spitting Seeds Chronicles')
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