steeped in farming for sure
Blue shirt and blue jeans
he’s mingled with country clubbers
Through and through
an honest fellow
what you see
is what you get
a gift, is he,
in many ways
to me, to thee
and our community
Nine decades now
his hands on the plow
he’s preached to sidewalk pounders
about the vagaries of growing
the crops and animals
that feed the nation
freeing most to other work
One moment shines
for fifty years
he sires a sweet corn feat
“Champaign Rotary Sweet Corn Roast”
is him there is no doubt
He sets aside an acre
researches best genetics
plants and tends the very best corn
than picks it, cooks it, shares it free
to Rotary, church and friends
picked at peak of sweetness
ears spend a day
soaking in cold water
then are slipped in baskets
Twelve big bags of charcoal
white with heat perfection
steam the kernels half an hour
then are spilled in a pile
Fun to see
a line of folks
buttered, salted ears of corn held tight
chomping down
“Mmmmm. Ahhhhh.
Boy that is good!”
“Well done, Dick!”
“Thank you Richard!”
“Three cheers for Burwash!”
And two hundred people
raise their voices
“Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!”
Intelligence in action
compassion for every one
Maybe there should be a title
Could it be “Kernel”?
In that elevated sense
of the very best
Richard Burwash, Kernel
Gift giver extraordinaire
Champaign Rotary Corn Roast 2010
Lin 07/10