Good And Plenty Stories To Tell Poem by Almedia Knight-Oliver

Red and white blooms graced both sides of the fence
The pathway leading right up to the steps, and disappearing into the porch
where she sat in her rocker, nodding and catnapping like old Tomcat under her feet
The slumbering buds that fronted the house, eyes widened at exactly four o'clock

After chopping cotton without a break, the old hoe leaned tiredly against the barn
and momma couldn't nap too long; the farm had too many things to tend
First, nearby the house the ditch needed to be deeper, so the shovel lifted dirt
from the earth, stopping raging fire from leaping into momma's house

In her garden where good and plenty seeds and slave to the rich earth
Even curses and whip couldn't stop them from giving rise to their roots and shoots

The seedlings pushed aside the soil, the shoots stood tall, readying for the crab-apple flower show

The laden apple tree's limbs hang low just in reach of momma's short limbs

Handing down more than enough for her to feast
Leaving plenty for the neighbors on either side of the fence.


October 7,2014