Blueberry Picking
with bucket in hand
and row after row of blueberries
bowing before me
offering themselves
their round fruit so perfect, so ripe,
I can’t help tasting a few
plucking them from bent branches
and popping them into my mouth
surprised at the sweetness
at the warmth
it will take a long time to fill my bucket
but I don’t mind
I like the feel of the leaves between my fingers
I like the way the berries fall off of the branch
and into my hand, then into my bucket
to join the ripe blue congregation
collecting at my feet
and when I reach down
to lift those bottom branches
sighing with delight
at hidden clumps of fruit
now exposed
I feel ancient and maternal
gathering the fresh fruit
the sweet food…
it will take a long time to fill my bucket
but I don’t mind
