KATHRYN MACDONALD

Foraging
(for M.E.M.)

When brambleberries have pulled
the sun inside their plump skins
making juicy flesh for lips
and tongues     you come
to wasteland meadows
and split-rail fences
with blue jays and blackbirds
chickadees and goldfinch
carrying a hopeful basket
but when you return
with lips stained purple
and few berries
you wink
at the greed
of birds.