The Last Red Berries The Last Red Berries What gentle lesson I learn from this nightshade, unwanted in its habitat, its toxins legendary, growing as it is from a crack in the pavement no other greenery but itself for comfort, facing unprotected the wind and cold and precipitation, yet gracefully spreading tangled limbs and offering its berries to birds who tolerate its poison and disperse its seeds, and patiently waiting for spring. Surely in all this, we can find a friend, if we can be a friend. The sun illuminates the red nightshade berries, visually shocking in their brilliance, as the vine stretches gracefully to both sides like a reclining figure before the stolid block pillar and squared garage doors. Still, I’ve walked down this alley before and not seen it; the reflected light from the snow must have given the berries that extra boost, and the snow itself seems to underline the sprouting vines. All that for a weed—or at least an invasive perennial vine that is mildly toxic. Poem, The Last Red Berries, © 2010 Bernadette E. Kazmarski Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Like this:Like Loading... Related Post navigation Snow at SunriseYoga Class is Over Leave a ReplyCancel reply This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.