“Sustenance” by Marta Dorton

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I strain open
tightly sealed jar
the last container
of Aunt Jeanie’s jelly

she drove three hours
to the sand hills
miles of short dunes
formed by dust bowl winds
to the plum fields

bushel baskets
stacked into each other
close at hand

cranes squalked overhead
on a southward flight
as she stretched
to pull ripe fruit

small bucketfuls
emptied into bushel baskets
hot breezes lifted her
straight white hair

long white cotton sleeves
softened harsh sun
brow of hat shaded warm brown eyes
a plum pyramid
rose in each large basket

harvest complete
the work begins
cooking mashing
canning cooling
storing giving

years gone now
I smear a sweet dab
onto course whole wheat slice
taste the freshness
Jeanie’s labors of love
alive today

-Marta Dorton

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