On a sunny day in August
the vegetation bristles
of brambles and tall grasses
and much in evidence
the successful come-through
of the blackberry genus.
Where are the wide-eyed kids?
Enmeshed in concerns
that make of nature walks a bore;
but as I reach and pluck
each lightly anchored fruit
the excitement of the wild attends.
In the palm of my hand
the collected cluster flashes
like jewels that convert
bleeding slightly
and roundly crushed
to exclamations.
