Paola, Kansas — After The Harvest

Not barren nor dried up. Not
infertile nor The Apocalypse.
Even though the sun is too much
with us, we volunteer to pick
what’s left of the sweetest of the sweet
corn. Oh orphaned food, seemingly left
to rot, ears missed by robotic fingers,
gathered by tender hands, you’ve been gleaned
to pass through the lips of hungry children.

THEME: Agriculture/Farming

BIO: Annie Klier Newcomer is a poet known for her lyrical and reflective poetry, often exploring themes of family, loss, and personal growth. Her debut collection, "Comets: Relationships That Wander," delves into the complexities of human relationships and the passage of time.

The Food Pantry Garden
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Green beans, just picked, overflow five-gallon buckets
Pints of fresh cherry tomatoes line large crates
Plants thrive in this massive garden, one of several local gardens
with produce destined for area food pantries
Whenever I volunteer
It boggles the mind that so many people experience food insecurity
That all the okra and jalapenos will find enough hungry stomachs to eat them
The level of need seems surreal, even unreal
How can this town possibly contain all these food-insecure people
What political and economic forces contribute
The mind wonders as the hands snap cucumbers off vines
This garden grows more and more
Pounds and pounds of produce to feed thousands of food pantry guests
Plump watermelons and long zucchini headed for pantries today
Beloved sweet corn going out tomorrow
More people who hunger will eat fresh, local produce.

THEME: Gardening

BIO: Kristi Jones is a poet from Madison, WI. She enthusiastically supports the work of Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens to address food insecurity, and enjoys volunteering and getting her hands dirty.