Ashmead’s Kernel

Long past days

Photo by William J Spirdione

One of my earliest memories
Me and my cousins
Climbing low branches
Of my grandfather’s
Ashmead’s Kernel
Apple tree
Eating uniquely flavored
Russetted apples
Until we were sick
Three feet off the ground
Thirty feet from the back door
Of my grandparents house
It feels as if I am still there
Free and far away
Never wanting to climb down
Many decades have passed
Since Papa died
Ten years ago
Planted a new tree
Years in the waiting
Finally ready
Ripe
Crisp
Apples
Papa
Childhood
Long past
Lives again