Poison Berries Mary Cate Clayton ‘24

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 irsty 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 esh hiding so many secrets What would be given to unlock A tasteful sea of poison berries?