Sweet Precious Icy
Long ago my uncle had dairy cows
once a year he'd let us take the cream
grind it one dripping hot sweaty day
in a wooden contraption brought out
just this one time a year with a crank
pressing rare ice and kosher salt around
a small metal cylinder filled to the top
with cream sugar eggs pulled nest fresh.
We cousins taking turns
the task tougher resistant
we'd have to lean push force
press with our whole bodies
into each singular revolution.
In the end my aunt would come
and scoop scrap out every bit of
a spatula one of us given to lick
the fine dear white cold mixture
into her largest fiesta ware bowl
brought out only this one time
and mix in freshly picked sliced
strawberries from her ripe patch.
So many family back then
each got a spoon small cup
sitting on hot cement steps
savoring those five maybe six
mouthfuls sweet precious icy.