BLACKBERRY THIEVES

picture postcard england
rolling worcestshire countryside
the england i always imagined from abroad
when i was living in a concrete jungle
here i stand atop hanbury hill
i squint in the bright autumn sunlight
as a stiff breeze blows up from the bristol channel
a sudden gust sending my hat flying into the brambles
carved into the top of the kiln
a helpful map helps to navigate the sweeping panorama
southern england laid out like a dinner table
away to the left
the broad sweep of the cotswold edge
or is it an escarpment?
saucer-shaped breedon hill is straight ahead
and to its right the invisible meeting point
of rivers avon and severn
winding their way down from the welsh highlands
i will have to take that feature on trust
the undulating malvern hills away to the west
which complete the panorama
full of lunch
we thieves make our way over the style
and into wide fields of fluffy sheep
grazing happily in the sunshine
otherwise alone in our pleasures
we find a fertile spot in the hedge
and begin picking the ripe berries
hannah woo covers the lower reaches
for obvious reasons
meanwhile daddy fireseed stretches into areas
that other pickers simply cannot reach
with his mr tickle arms
and refusal to be daunted by stinging nettles
soon our hands are covered with little prickles
and stains of deep purple juice
incriminating evidence of our actions
making our way slowly along the hedgerows
we fill a used tissue box punnet
and then a plastic bag
a couple of pounds of fresh organic fruit
later when we get home
there will be bramble jelly
and blackberry crumble
and a warm satisfied feeling in our bellies