POISON BERRIES Mary Cate Clayton Poison berries Hanging their red-orange bellies Growing Ripening Bigger, sweeter, hard as a knot Falling unbidden to the ground One glossy red dot Reaching for the sun Thirsty for the satisfaction of warmth Needing the light as much as Bluebeard’s maidens Although untouched Too much to bear is the thought Walking down row after row Daunting, taunting, pulling, screaming Greed-red flesh hiding so many secrets What would be given to unlock A tasteful sea of poison berries?
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Dana Hall
