The Blackberries

The blackberries are growing through the fence again

not long since they were cut back

the blackberries...brambles some call them

are they not some of the most hardiest survivors?

They are like our dense thicket of patterned behavior

our cunning thorny most intimate objector

you can try a lot of sophisticated or psychological tricks

even dive deeply into mystical practices

cutting them, tearing them out by the roots

but...their roots are sturdy and deep and all too often

they just grow back through the fence after a while

I thought about something new

in dealing with this blackberry-pattern business

Listen:

I will from now on start

to built artistic structures and espaliers

labyrinth-like dome- and archway-spaces they can overgrow

and I will just guide them gently

and let them flower and fruit

make berries and create shade for me

So me and my patterned behavior

where I harvest from instead of fighting it

become blackberry-farmers!

We embrace the thorns, outwitting and

…patiently turning the formerly unwanted

into rich harvest!