Monday, March 28, 2011

Canning Jars

packing the pantry
when cupboards were filled
with jars of tomatoes
and beans that were dilled

once a key player
in the family’s survival
patiently waiting
the home food revival

stashed away in the basement
all but forgotten
as now meals are made
with the push of a button

sitting for years
in the cobwebs and dust
the metal wire bails
beginning to rust

pulled from the cellar
or bought at yard sales
gather the lids
and tighten the bails

called into service
once more from the past
as food now again
is preserved under glass

a hot water bath
to ensure a good seal
holding the contents
for a mid-winter meal

14 comments:

  1. I love this, reminds me of jars of stewed tomatoes boiling on the stove, then lined up on the pantry shelf. Sweet memories of my home in Vermont!

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  2. I remember helping my friend's mother can vegetables at her house. It was always sort of "magic" to me!

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  3. Smells good from here. btw...you were nominated for an award. Go here if you want to claim it
    http://hiddenheartbeat.blogspot.com/2011/03/amazing-squares.html

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  4. called into service
    once more from the past
    as food now again
    is preserved under glass

    things always seem to come around full circle!

    enjoyed this very much!

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  5. I recently spent a weekend with my aunt, learning to make and apple butter and jams. She has always canned, and I hope to carry on the tradition, and hopefully pass it on to my children.
    Love the poem, Charlie! Nice one!

    http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/perfect-love/

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  6. I've always been fascinated by the idea of canning vegetables. I saw it demonstrated on a science programme when I was a child, and I've always wanted to have a go. Nice poem :)

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  7. Oh my goodness, I love this poem! It brought back memories of canning with my Mother. Thanks!

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  8. wow, this made me incredibly nostalgic

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  9. oh wow when I was small that is all my grandmother did all summer long was can foods and make jellies and jams she loved to do this one
    http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/20/taken-from-me-on-halloween-night/

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  10. Yes! true...it's deja vu all over again (as Yogi Berra used to say).
    I like the rhyme and rhythm in this piece.
    good job.

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  11. this is cool.

    a beautiful message well conveyed, love the fun of rhyming.

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