Picking blackberries
a lovely form of Zen practice
the ones you see first – bright red –
are not the ones you want
their black edible sisters hide modestly
among the thorns and leaves.

Pick too fast and you crush the berry
pick too fast and you stab your fingers
grab the berry just right
it will come to you
it was designed to be eaten.

Your fingers should weave among the
thorny stems
like weaving a basket

Elaine Weinreb