bowing branches
where wildlife feasted—
shameful of me
to long for the berries
that briefly adorned them
—A Hundred Gourds, 3:2, March 2014
Pictured above: American beautyberry, a native plant that grows like weeds all over our property. This year, the iridescent berries, which I always eagerly anticipate, are still quite thick. However, last year, when the above tanka was written, they didn't last long. Also refer to a former post.
nature is always beautiful no matter what:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vandana. Yes, the fascinating beauty of our natural world!
DeleteOnly a kind soul could write such a caring tanka.
ReplyDeletewendy, you made my day. :)
DeleteThere's a certain flower in my neighborhood that I always look forward to it blooming. It comes late summer, a bright red, but doesn't last for long and I miss it when it's gone. Your poem perfectly describes my experience too, though in my case it's a flower instead of berries.
ReplyDeleteA subtle & relatable tanka and a beautiful photo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan and Jenny!!
DeleteYou are so good at zeroing in on thoughts and feelings such as these!
ReplyDeleteoh, I don't know about that, Jennifer, but thank you. :)
DeleteThere's poetry everywhere in nature, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteWe have wild rasberry and blueberry bushes on our property. I used to pick them and make jam, but have had to share with the birds. For the last couple of years, I've left them all to the birds. They need the berries more than I do.
Adelaide
Yes, there seems to be lots of it! Your above post almost sounds like the prose for a haibun!
Delete