What does strawstack mean in the poem When Frost is on Pumpkin?

The phrase "strawstack" in the poem "When Frost is on the Pumpkin" by James Russell Lowell is a reference to a bundle of straw that has been stacked together for storage or use as a building material. In the poem, the strawstack is mentioned in the following line:

> "And stack the wood for winter fires and pile

> The strawstack in the barn."

The line suggests that the speaker is preparing for the coming winter by storing firewood and straw for use as fuel and insulation. The strawstack is a symbol of the preparations being made for the colder months, and it also represents the cyclical nature of the seasons and the importance of planning ahead for the future.

In the context of the poem, the strawstack also contributes to the overall atmosphere of rural life and domesticity that is depicted throughout. It evokes images of traditional farm work and the coziness of a warm hearth during the cold winter months.