Picking Apples

 Grandpa Dallas Matheson's

apple orchard grew above the frost line

on Shewbird Mountain.

Each fall he took the sled

through the woods glowing

with orange, ruby, and lemon leaves

to pick the apples:

the black beauty, horse apple, hog sweet,

red June, striped May, pumpkin apple,

queen pippin, pound apple, and Ben Davis.

The grandchildren climbed the trees

and picked dozens of fruit,

every red, yellow, and red striped apple.

They made apple cider, apple butter,

and Ma Minnie's dried apple stack cake

and apple dumplings melted in your mouth.

--Brenda Kay Ledford