Summer's Blood

We went blackberry picking first thing Saturday morning. All of us, together, which felt amazing. The air was thick and sweet with the smell of everything at the climax of life. The berries were so ripe they were bursting. I found myself taking deep breathes, trying to take it all in since I know the summer is beginning to ebb away. The nights are getting longer. The violent thunderstorms have started to sweep away the heat. I haven't smelt the chill in the air yet, but I know it won't be long.

But enough about the weather. You're probably here for the kids. They had a great time helping pick and eat.

An excerpt of a poem I was trying to remember while we were out in the patch.

"Blackberry Picking" by Seamus Heaney  Late August, given heavy rain and sun
For a full week, the blackberries would ripen.
At first, just one, a glossy purple clot
Among others, red, green, hard as a knot.
You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet
Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it
Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for
Picking. Then red ones inked up and that hunger
Sent us out with milk cans, pea tins, jam-pots
Where briars scratched and wet grass bleached our boots.
Round hayfields, cornfields and potato-drills
We trekked and picked until the cans were full,
Until the tinkling bottom had been covered
With green ones, and on top big dark blobs burned
Like a plate of eyes. Our hands were peppered
With thorn pricks, our palms sticky as Bluebeard's.
We hoarded the fresh berries in the byre.
But when the bath was filled we found a fur,
A rat-grey fungus, glutting on our cache.
The juice was stinking too. Once off the bush
The fruit fermented, the sweet flesh would turn sour.
I always felt like crying. It wasn't fair
That all the lovely canfuls smelt of rot.
Each year I hoped they'd keep, knew they would not.

And sorry for the long absence. In my last post I mentioned I was sick. Then I got sicker.

Then I got swamped with work. I should be working now. But I wanted to let you, dear family

and friends, know that we are well and love and miss you.