Whidbey Island Autumn

The apples are pies and apple sauce,
Half the pears, preserved in jars…
The rest now papered for winter,
In the cool garage, with the cars.

The winter preserves are finished,
Each berry handpicked and chosen…
The corn, Swiss chard and beet greens,
Par boiled and conveniently frozen.

The most storable winter staple,
A Sherman Farm Hubbard Squash…
Now stockpiled in the basement,
With green tomatoes before the frost.

Some octogenarians I know,
Will think they over fed their cat…
Climbing up their stairs in April,
With produce nibbled by a rat!