dark of the moon, summer
grey day follows grey day, the average temperature hovers around the early to mid 20’s
gardeners lamented early on about mould and damp rotting veges
now they complain about the slow ripening process.
we are eating minatures -mini zucchinis, mini green squash
we are eating voluminous quantities of purple king beans
the lebanese cucumbers are rolling off the vine and into kingston’s mouth who at 16 months munches them like an apple.
the greens continue to amass in a bowl every lunch time a complex mix of bitter sweet and sour.
the tomatoes those lovelly tiger stripey ones are not yet ready but we wait .
the blackberries are coming on happening in wild pockets in the garden
yesterday I picked a bowl full within sight of the house
they scratched and marked me with their viscious thorns and their crimson juice.
authorities name them illegal and spray with poison
hating the non conformity to straight and tidy lines
fearing the wild chaotic and hurtful nature.
in reality blackberry is an awesome feat of engineering
committed to vigorous growth and expansion
intent on delivering habitat and food.
hardy survivalists thumbing its nose at all efforts of control.
it offers us juicy black berries rich of summer love and sunshine, of last nights rain and birdsong.
thru the power of alchemy the black berry bramble shares its capacity to resist ,
the promise of juicy rewards when we take the courage to penetrate our pain
and the selfless service we can give to others as providers of shelter and nourishment.
it is not just vitamin C and anti-oxidants
it is not just a problem
it is an entity of magic and renewal .
and hey we are eating them every day now.