Birthday Pickling

BIRTHDAY PICKLING

What brings us here is sheer

abundance, the surplus between

what we seeded and what we plucked—

rookie's luck—tumbling over the edge

of the counter like congregants

at a tent revival overcome

by the Spirit (or maybe the heat.)

Too much to eat, and how quick

it all shrivels, even molds,

so this morning Ball jars clink

in toast to preserving what we can, 

at least long enough that some of it

might tang our children's tongues

and set them to witness.

And if the days are long and thin

and not in the business of filling,

there’s still this undeniable crunch

to relish in, not to mention that eternal after-

taste sharpening the back

of more than throats as we draw

ever near the bottom of the jar.