and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring
not even my spouse.
The children were nestled
and snuggled all down.
Just the mention of tomatoes
and they’d sleep with a frown.
When down in the basement
arose such a clatter,
as I carried canning jars
and tried not to splatter.
The moon up above
the summer’s bad drought,
couldn’t keep me from sleeping.
I darn near passed out!
In morning I woke
and gathered some “brave”,
to face the mountain of tomatoes
who’d make me their slave.
I peeled and I cored.
I boiled and I canned,
with undone tomatoes
starting to demand.
After hours that were long
and a day that dragged by,
I finished two bushels
and never started to cry.
When my cute farmer came in,
I had little to say.
My hair, face, and make-up
looked like the roadkill of the day.
He kissed me and quickly sprang to his tractor,
plowing more land.
A hundred more bushels
he’d factor!
*My thanks to Clement Moore for the original poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. It gave me great tempo and kept me on track. I do apologize that I have probably caused you to turn many times in your grave, dear sir.
You can also find Patrice at Everyday Ruralty.
Interested in contributing a guest post to the Farm Bell blog? Read information here for Farm Bell blog submissions.
Want to subscribe to the Farm Bell blog? Go here.
angela p says:
I love it! Thanks! You summed it up very well. And wouldnt you know, when your doing tomatoes or looking your best, thats when everyone stops by! 😉
On August 14, 2010 at 8:57 am
Dede ~ wvhomecanner says:
This is great! I have canned two bushels in one day all by myself and your Ode really nails it! Oh, SO worth the work a few months later when we’ve forgotten LOL!
On August 14, 2010 at 10:49 am
rosemary+++ says:
I enjoyed your poem No longer do I can two bushel of tomatoes or anything a day Half a bushel per day is my limit.
On August 14, 2010 at 2:33 pm
KentuckyFarmGirl says:
Love the poem and I know how that feels! LOL
I added your blog button to the sidebar on my blog and started following along. Those sweet rolls looked delicious!!!
On August 14, 2010 at 4:03 pm
BuckeyeGirl says:
Cute! Very cute! Can Dr Seuss be far behind? I am Jam! Jam I am! … well, maybe not.
On August 14, 2010 at 11:13 pm
CindyP says:
Very cute, Patrice 🙂 You’ve nailed it quite well!
On August 15, 2010 at 9:39 am
Patrice says:
Dr. Seuss? What a good idea, BuckeyeGirl!
Everyone-Thanks for all the comments.
On August 15, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Pete says:
May never look at a tomato quite the same! 😉
On August 15, 2010 at 4:55 pm