Shelling Peas

SHELLING PEAS It's summertime in the country, And the kids buzz around like bees; But, when that silver tub is placed on the porch, It's time for shelling peas. From the smallest to the oldest, It's something we'd all do; At first, of course, the little ones, Didn't have a clue. They'd watch to see just how it went, And soon , they'd give a try; Then look amazed as fingers stained, As though dipped in purple dye. When we'd first get started, It seemed an insurmountable chore; There looked like half a million peas, Or maybe even more. But, after we all got the flow, We'd turn it into fun; We'd have a race to see just who Would be the first one done. We'd each one have our own bowl, and a paper sack; We's slip our fingers through the hull, Then throw it empty back. At last, when all the shells lay empty, And a tub of peas was done; We'd let the grownups take the haul, Then look for some new fun. Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dors from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia -A Life in Poems #southern #southernlife #southernpoems #southernfoodpoems #countrylife #shellingpeas