How to Make Applejack

Posted on 2023-10-23 by Bartholomew Barker

On this moonless October night
I sneak into Farmer Greg’s orchard
the sour sweet odor of rotting apples
the squish under my boot

He and his musket should be asleep
but the hounds might catch my frightful scent
I load a gunny sack and absquatulate
to my flinty acre — root cellar close to empty

Stolen apples make a decent cider
to leave out when the snow drifts ’round my cabin
chip away the ice to reveal the bitter joy
the very marrow of this life

(For today’s Living Poetry Prompt and Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt.)

 

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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11 Responses to How to Make Applejack

  1. Michele Lee's avatar Michele Lee says:
    2023-10-23 at 22:45

    Really enjoyed the imagery and the ending is excellent! Nice job with absquatulate, too. 😁

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Bill's avatar Bill says:
    2023-10-24 at 11:38

    Well done. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. LuAnne Holder's avatar LuAnne Holder says:
    2023-10-25 at 19:14

    Love this poem. My dad always said that the best watermelon was a stolen one. :) (He lived during the depression.)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2023-10-27 at 02:14

    This is a delightful fiction. Well done

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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