Poet's Platform Column | 31 July 08 by Janet Nesler | The Scioto Voice | Wheelersburg, Ohio

Life On The Farm Memories of growing up on Grandpas farm, There were eggs to gather, hogs to be fed, Cows to milk, fields to plow. A corncrib to fill, And grain for the mill. Crops to harvest and canning to be done, Firewood to cut for the cook stove, Fill the coal shed with coal, For that big old warm morning heating stove. Stacking bales of hay, On a hot summer day, Sure it was play. There was sausage to make, hams to smoke And bacon to cure. The ring of that dinner bell Calling you in from the field For one of Grandma’s special meals. When the work was done, there was time for fun, swimming in the creek, fishing in the pond, Snowball fights and sled rides, sometimes into the night. I guess when all is said and done, There is no better life Than down on the farm. Larry LeBrun McDermott   Old Fashion Ways and Days Old fashion ways Old fashion days Where have they gone?  Folk together on Sundays Under the oak tree at home, No motors running, Grandpa taught, The Sabbath Day we rest Without a thought of working, Just visiting and resting a lot. The TV news is scary Of what is going on Most of our resource they say is gone. Mind goes back to the days Of the horse and plow, Old cook stoves of wood and coal, A lot different than now. No seeds planted as back then, No canning or chickens to feed, Food coming in from far away, Not providing our own things we need. Fireplace light from burning wood We cooked potatoes in the ashes You really could, Hot embers made them so good. Fresh churned butter From the old milk cow, We run to the store and Get some now. I’ve lived those good old fashion days I still love to talk about The old fashion ways. Maybell Criswell South Point, OH