POPCORN KERNELS,

POPPING IN THE MICROWAVE.

                       IT SMELLS SO GOOD

BUT IT IS JUST NOT THE SAME

AS THOSE KERNELS WE GOT

 FROM THE POPCORN HOUSE

ON POPCORN HILL

IN GILMANTON.

THE POPCORN HOUSE

IS AT THE TOP OF THE BIG HILL

ON STAGE ROAD .

GRANDMA’S FARM JUST UP

ON POTTER ROAD.

THE AUNTS WOULD TAKE US THERE

IN THE OLD PICK UP

TO GATHER POPCORN

THAT HAD BEEN GROWN ON THE FARM

AND STORED IN THE OLD GRAY HOUSE

FOR THE KERNELS TO DRY.

WE WOULD TAKE IT BACK UP

THE BUMPY DIRT ROAD TO THE FARM

FOR POPPING ON THE OLD BLACK

GLENWOOD WOODSTOVE IN THE KITCHEN.

I REMEMBER THE OLD SCREENWIRE BASKETS

WITH THE LONG HANDLES

THAT THE CORN WAS PUT INTO 

AND IT WAS SLID BACK AND FORTH

AND BACK AND FORTH AND THEN

SUDDENLY IT WOULD START TO POP

AND THE BASKET WOULD FILL

AND OH, THE AROMA…

AND IT WOULD BE DONE

AND POURED INTO KID SIZED BOWLS

AND DRIZZLED WITH MELTED BUTTER

ALSO MADE ON THE FARM…

ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY

NOW, BACK TO THE MICROWAVE

TO THE JUST NOT THE SAME POPCORN

BUT THE MEMORIES MAKE IT

OH SO SWEET….

Susan Bergeron

                            August 5, 2009