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(LIFE-GOLD)

Gold from An Old Apple Tree

     While preparing the bounty of food from a fruitful apple tree, one may talk with God and also form special memories.







apple gold



 LIFE-GOLD collection of poems copyright (c) 1995 by Marilee Miller
illustrated Web version copyright (c) 2009 by Marilee Miller
All rights reserved.  One copy allowed on non-commercial computers for personal use.
Otherwise, no copying in any form (electronic, digital, or mechanical) without permission.
        admin  @  cooshistory  com     (close up spaces and add dot)






GOLDEN ORCHARD TREE

Apple tree standing alone:
Gnarly-beautiful creature,
  Is remnant sole
From pioneer orchard.
  A golden treasure
    From God's planted Nature!





CARE-PACKAGE TREE

From tiny shoot,
  Carefully tended
    From seeds of pioneer,
Grew a young plant,
  Watered faithfully,
By hand, from bucket or cup;
     In history's time,
   This tree considered
  Quite the valuable little darling!

Tree grew tall o'er the years,
  To bring tender shade to land.
  Fruit has long offered
    Vitamins, nourishment, crunch --
      And ever, this tree represents
       A special Care-Package
    Of God's delicious beauty!





THIS OLD ORCHARD TREE

In its vintage, this knotted old tree
  Is a moss-back; whole limbs
    Of yore have been torn away;
Huge old remaining memory-tree
  Still performs God-given duty:
      Considerately,
      Last spree,
From an old orchard outlying,
  Furnishes whole household
Wealthily with golden glee.





SEASONS

Count the seasons' passing,
  Remember in mind --
Bare limbs whipping
  In February storm;
Then the tender leafing out,
    In spring wonder-time!
Delicate blossoms, whitely pinkish,
  God's snowflakes at start of summer,
    Drawing many a reflective heart
      To pure, rejoicing mood!
Little green apples in row
  On a twisty, brownish limb;
Then slow ripening, fruit crisply ashine;
  "Eating apples" coming on --
      "Umm, so very good."

Ripe apples falling thickly
    On a carpet of rangy grass
        Studded with runaway wood-violets.
Cut apple open 'cross diameter
    To reveal center star;
  Brown, teardrop seeds
    Once falling to ground,
      New shoots may brood!

Sheltering cover of orchard tree:
    During the apple harvest time
  Becomes workplace most holy,
Where a person may come to talk to God.
  Full apple crop motivates
More than seasonal work;
    To the seeker of the God of thanksgiving,
      Such wealth of beauty
 Provides chance for worship's interlude.





APPLES, WELCOME

Early apples, welcome --
Ripe enough for baking, canning.
  Gather the windfalls
    For sweet, sound eating;
  Bring out ladders
    To pluck bright fruit
Well worth kitchen's saving!
  Sort apples, by many boxes,
Before any flesh should spoil.
Cut the bruised for applesauce,
  Wormy ones still good enough
    To pare for frozen winter pies.
"Keepers" go to tool shed storage.
   Scour the canning utensils:
      Time for ev'ry-summer's toil.
                                                
Turn around trite adage --
"What comes down must go up!"
    The preservation affair --
  Every apple down off the tree
  Must needs be used up wisely,
(A labor more blessed, with added prayer!)





A ROCKING CHAIR, APPLES, AND PRAYER

The work, of course, must now be done:
But at least pamper yourself;
    Get out the family rocking chair,
Lounge in shade of tree,
  Peel apples in blissful content,
    While feeling gentle breeze on the move!

     In the cool of leafy arbor,
    Rock in pleasure while turning
  Strings of unbroken peelings,
Pride of your craft to contemplate.
    (Enjoy God's green earth,
Sunshine, while you peel and work --
  Plenty of time later on
    To slave over hot stove!)
Now's the time for a paring prayer!

Think not on wearing-out labor,
  But of provisioning all family
    To last the coming winter;
And ponder the amazing grace
    Of God's sweet bounty,
 Preparing in heart good attitude!

Will preserving juicy trove be just a chore?
   ("Apples rough and apples tough;
Thank the Lord, we'll have enough".)
  Or will a prayerful mood hold on,
     Ev'ry apple stored with heart of gratitude?




APPLE-POEM

Praise the God of apples creative,
  Lift your heart in prayer
    As you prepare all those good apples,
Meanwhile rocking happily
    Beneath the leafy waving umbrella
      Of beauty-old golden orchard tree.
    Aren't you glad to sit down,
  To freely meditate?
Think of good fortune --
  God making apples and garden;
  Will there not be more poetry in going
To kitchen to bake and seal bottle?
  Oh, may every fresh, fragrant pie
    Become a joy-poem to contemplate!
 
"How pleasant are thy
  Dwelling places alway,
    Oh Lord!"
How sweet the sanctuary
  Of weathered board!
    What joy is, at the word
Spoken of delight in God,
  Creeping into heart on apple day
    (So no laborer is bored!)
Pleasure is: being outdoors
Under memory-apple-tree-adored,
    While cherishing fresh air, and peace today!
Peeling apples offers one of life's
  Precious, golden hours
  To be in remembrance stored.

 


LIFE-GOLD collection of poems copyright (c) 1995 by Marilee Miller
illustrated Web version copyright (c) 2009 by Marilee Miller
All rights reserved.  One copy allowed on non-commercial computers for personal use.
Otherwise, no copying in any form (electronic, digital, or mechanical) without permission.
        admin  @  cooshistory  com     (close up spaces and add dot)


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