Jan Allison Poet Haiku

My Gigantic Garden of Childhood

an acre of land
our very own smallholding
father scythes long grass

rows of potatoes
green runner beans, sweet carrots
mother bakes fresh bread

huge laundry baskets
filled with ripe red strawberries
small hands were stained red

a goat and two pigs
chickens and a cockerel
our morning alarm

perched upon a stool
I learn to do the milking
owl hoots in ash tree

Garden Poetry Contest

Sponsored by Dear Heart

06/10/20

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Paul Schneiter June 18, 2020 at 9:49 PM Lovely nostalgia piece that, with a paucity of words, creates exquisite, memory-rich images. Simply beautiful, Jan. Hugs, Paul

Constance La France June 18, 2020 at 5:22 PM Jan, congratulations on your win in my garden contest with this beautifully penned poem _Constance

Winged Warrior June 14, 2020 at 4:53 AM (((Congrats!!))) dear Jan...lovely memories of gardens past...^WW^ :o) Jan Allison June 14, 2020 at 1:45 PM thanks ^WW^:-) hugs Jan xx

Aditi Mishra June 13, 2020 at 6:47 PM Back to congratulate you on your win Jan. Much love :) Jan Allison June 14, 2020 at 1:44 PM thanks Aditi:-) hugs Jan xx

Michelle Faulkner June 11, 2020 at 9:45 PM What a lovely train of haiku you have done - I like the strawberry one the best, they are my favorite berry - best of luck in the contest! Jan Allison June 12, 2020 at 3:22 AM we literally used to pic washing baskets of them we had so many - I used to help dad bag them up and sell them - at one time we had a small shop attached to the house but later it was turned into a garage:-) I still never eat produce I pick in my own garden so my fingers may get red from the raspberries... but not my lips:-) hugs jan xx

Regina Mcintosh June 11, 2020 at 9:36 AM I do love farm life !!! It's such a blessing and miracles abound in this life. God bless you sweet Jan... From the heart of NC. Gina Jan Allison June 11, 2020 at 9:46 AM Thanks for dropping by Regina:-) hugs Jan xx

Mike Gentile June 11, 2020 at 9:03 AM Such a different experience than my own childhood Jan, yet I also find I somehow relate. I really enjoyed this beautifully crafted garden of memories! Good luck in the contest xxoo Jan Allison June 11, 2020 at 9:14 AM Thanks Mike sadly my memories after this are not happy ones - 5 years on my mother and I have never grieved for my father.. no idea about my sister she has no contact with any of us since she inherited. Hugs Jan xx

Kim Rodrigues June 11, 2020 at 7:17 AM Sounds lovely! My parents didn’t garden until I was in eighth grade. By then I was hanging out with friends so I never really found my green thumb. I love your poem! Jan Allison June 11, 2020 at 9:12 AM thanks Kim:-) hugs Jan xx

Mahtab Bangalee June 11, 2020 at 5:43 AM nostalgic memory .........beautiful poem shared for the contest Jan Allison June 11, 2020 at 6:47 AM thanks Mahtab:-) hugs Jan xx

Jennifer Proxenos June 11, 2020 at 1:55 AM Such a beautful creative poem you painted of your parents smallholding which was your very own paradise - sounds awesome Jan. Our house we sold 6 months ago to come into a secure living estate was just under an acre and I had landscaped the whole garden together with our wonderful gardener whom we had for 18 years. That was my paradise, which I miss so much. Hugs and blessings Jan, Jennifer. Jan Allison June 11, 2020 at 6:47 AM aww Jennifer you must miss it terribly I know how much work goes into creating a paradise like you had:-) hugs Jan xx

Tania Kitchin June 10, 2020 at 6:41 PM A sweet chain of haiku's, it captures sweet childhood memories! Lovely, Jan! hugs Jan Allison June 11, 2020 at 6:46 AM thanks Tania:-) hugs Jan xx

Ilene Bauer June 10, 2020 at 3:11 PM this sounds so appealing to me, jan! you've painted a lovely picture of the garden of your youth - you were lucky to have had it! my mother planted nothing in our back garden (although there was a tree) but our neighbor used to let me help her pick her roses and cherries and i loved doing that... Jan Allison June 10, 2020 at 3:14 PM the only think I cant remember was the type of tree, it was between us and the neighbours and the school which ran down the side of our property. Our science teacher used to come and watch the family of owls which we called Olly and Olive - they had 3 owlets which were so gorgeous - oh such memories!:-) hugs Jan xx

Aditi Mishra June 10, 2020 at 2:55 PM Loved the beautiful memories. And it is interesting to know you could learn milking. I so wish to get back to such a peaceful life somewhere in countryside. Blessings and love Jan! :) Jan Allison June 10, 2020 at 2:58 PM We had a huge garden which my dad and his friend worked on - his friend was an elderly man but he would still cycle about 6 miles a day to help - mum would feed him and he just loved having company:-) hugs Jan xx

Rico Leffanta June 10, 2020 at 1:25 PM Work! Work! Work! Is that any way to spend Lockdown? I enjoy your poetry, so do continue with your walks! Aloha! Rico Jan Allison June 10, 2020 at 1:32 PM Was many years ago that we lived there - I now have my own garden have managed to do a little today but its been wet so no walk apart from to the shop for some 'moo juice' :-) hugs Jan XX

Tom Cunningham June 10, 2020 at 12:28 PM Happy memories Jan, back then folks used their gardens to grow their own produce, doesn't come any fresher than that Nowadays it's pop to Tescos lol. Good luck in the contest. Tom Jan Allison June 10, 2020 at 12:45 PM I wouldn't eat the pigs or chickens lol and the eggs were so rich the bright orange yolks used to make me sick. Mum and I literally used to pick HUGE washing baskets of strawberries - i would pick them and not eat them until they'd been washed and prepared:-) hugs Jan xx

Joseph May June 10, 2020 at 11:42 AM Beautifully penned Jan, GL in the Contest Jan Allison June 10, 2020 at 12:09 PM Thanks Joseph my father was brought up on a farm in Lithuania and re created a small part of it when I was growing up - have just checked on the web and the house is still called 'longacre' we drove to see it some years ago and is been massively extended from when my parents owned i:-) hugs Jan xx

Caren Krutsinger June 10, 2020 at 11:23 AM You have described my life currently, and I would encourage you to come hither whenever you want and help me tend my garden, my friend. I can see that you appreciate them! Jan Allison June 10, 2020 at 11:38 AM Aww sorry Caren we are still under lock down! Would love to visit the US one day and meet some souper friends:-) hugs Jan xx