No Green Berries or Leaves

 

No Green Berries Or LeavesNO GREEN BERRIES OR LEAVES
By: Paul J Stankard

Walking north
along the tracks
past Lilly pond,
thistles mark
the narrow path
through grass
moist in morning dew.

To the blueberry woods,
where filling a quart container
brought praise
for no green berries of leaves,
as a mother smiled
on a child's labor.

Now gathering blueberries
like a prayer,
the first taste
a communion
the mystery shared.