Patchwork

      
The lane heavy with brambles        
nightshades and elderberries        
black and shiny in noonday heat          
fingers dark with bramble juice,          
sweet my tongue and purple.    
          
Memories compete, buds open          
butterflies unfold their wings          
searching ripening stigmas          
honeydew and mystery,        
fingers to my lips confirm.    
        
    
Sweet tastes and opal charm,          
tempting nightshade purple          
hiding in bramble leaves.          
Seek not her generous gift,          
belladonna, beware her name!      
        
Blackbirds shun her mystery,          
you to the rose return.          
Let honeydew quench your thirst,          
drink deep and thirst for more.          
parched mouth in noonday heat.      
      
See rose-bud petals fall,          
stamens fecund-dusty-yellow.          
take a stigma for your own,          
none compete as petals fall.          
Breathe deep   ...   ....  intoxicate,    
       
Time to live and die.          
A little death a small price          
heaven beckons from tomorrow,          
mouths no longer parched,          
tongues replete and sweet.