Unexpected Harvest (2/9/15)

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 14 Sep 2015
  • 2825 reads
10 comments
 

Picking early blackberries,
rain drifts in,
tumble into car,
explore a maze of lanes.
See a new path  …
the rain has stopped  a-while.
… ‘Shouldnt we have brought the box
… in case?’
‘I’ll run back, just put a plastic bag
in my pocket,’  …
‘Can’t find one.’

Trudge through a slushy muddy lane,
then thick wet grass,
up through trees and
earthy bank with slatted steps,
and out onto the hillside:

Shropshire is so 3-dimensional –
ups and dips,
hills near and far,
some in the mist, or rain,
stormy cloud shadow
and bright stubble fields.

Soon pass a large blackberry bush,
full of luscious fruit
glittering in the transient sunshine.

‘Oh’!
‘Well, there’s always the map-bag?’

Next day, six little packets of stewed blackberries frozen.

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Wonderful writing Rhiannon,

I love the rolling hills and you describe them so well.

You know it's funny but I've been painting a bowl of fruit and I'd just finished some blackberries. They're such a colourful fruit and their taste is to die for, especially in a crumble with apples.

I so enjoyed reading about your trip and thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. A bit of a rambly write, but that countryside has such beauty it was nice to share, and a bit of a fun incident as well! We had the first little packet of those blackberries yesterday in a crumble with apple! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by celticman on

blackberries (and plums and apples) all ripe for picking and it's good to get out and pilfer nature's best. . 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

We used to have a patch between the roads in the town we lived in, where they had bushes of huge blackberries and I used to go down with a bowl just as I was cooking, but now though more in the country here, have to remember to try to go get them at the right time, but it's nice to be able to just stew and freeze not have to make jam like in my mother's day. I'm afraid that's a bit complicated for me, but fresh or stewed their lovely! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Deliberately Ev... on

This is lovely. A very simple every day thing captured picture perfect in this brief little moment. 

The beat of your heart is the mellifluent rhythm to my soul.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Glad you enjoyed the little episode! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

You paint a very pleasant picture of picking blackberries in the autumn, with all the accompanying problems and joys.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jean. That's what it was meant to be, a pleasant picture of the time! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by rayjones on

My mother used to send me and my sister out the woods to pick blackberries, we'd pick she'd bake and everyone was happy, your poem was a delightful ramble a joy and sweet reminder of how sweet things once were thank you

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, and so glad it brought back nice memories. We've just been back to the same lovely spot to get some more! We have a sitting service from the council once a week, so that my husband and I can have a free afternoon from the care of his mother (used to be both his parents), and we do enjoy getting into the countryside, weather permitting! Rhiannon