this evening
i worked my way through our strawberry patch
delicately cupping clusters of
sun warmed crimson fruit
hunched like a greedy troll
while on tip-toe
i
may have looked like a mountain dancer
while in reality
i was minding the space underfoot
careful not to crush
those berries not yet at perfect pitch
last year
we planted 4 varieties of strawberry
two june bearing
chandler and sequoia
one everbearing
quinalt
and finally
alpine
which we grew from seed
direct from italy
the berries grow different sizes
at different rates
each with its own flavor profile
but equally sweet
very sweet
with strawberry flavor
that
saturates your tongue
our first harvest
is strictly for eating
one by one
until our bellies are full
and our lips
rosy red
i'll let you know if there are any left for sharing
