I just stood outside in
the summer heat and
ate raspberries off the
briar until I couldn’t.
Tree frogs hollered in
the steamy air and
a storm brewed in the
distance. I heard the
charged sky rattle
and felt the energy
move across the
valley, the atmosphere
breathing in, about
to explode. I savored
every bite of fresh raw
zest, and the memories
of running out to my
parents’ garden barefoot
to eat every ripe berry
I could find – a
longing for the
tenderness of
childhood lingers
within us all.
A barred owl
called out its chilling
notes from the forest
behind me, interrupting
my nostalgia, and a clap
of thunder shook the earth
and sent me running
inside with my hands
full of berries.