Open and Inviting – v2

Open and inviting,
calling me to reach, to pick,
crimson stain on my fingers,
ripe berry past my lips…
 
August fruit, inviting,
ripe summer fruit
enticing me again
to reach in for more…
 
=============
Edited March 11, 2024
Open and Inviting – v2
 
&
edited February 12, 2022
A Cup of Berries – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-cup-of-berries-v5.html
edited February 11, 2022
living goblets – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/living-goblets-v4.html
Edited after reading "Blackberries",
by Mary Oliver
&
edited November 28, 2019
living goblets – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v3.html
edited November 27, 2019
living goblets – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v2.html
November 27, 2019
living goblets
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-of-juice-of-nectar-no.html
&
edited November 28, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-cup-of-berries-v4.html
edited August 22, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v3
&
August 6, 2018
Open and inviting
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/08/open-and-inviting.html
August 5, 2018
my reply
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1026279624072937474
August 5, 2018
writing prompt, “How poetic can you be? Write a short poem about what you see!”
a closeup picture of blueberries, red raspberries, and blackberries
https://twitter.com/RealisticPoetry/status/1026107637639725056
edited June 21, 2014
A Cup of Berries – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-cup-of-berries-v2.html
August 10, 2008
A Cup of Berries
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/08/cup-of-berries.html
Rev. Lori Eldredge’s kitchen
North Kingstown, RI
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
-----------------
poetry, color, description, writing poetry, shade, hue, language, nature, image, imagination, photograph, art, beauty, alive, senses, eyes, power,
 
#poetry #color #description #writingpoetry #shade #hue #words #language #nature #image #imagination #photograph #art #beauty #alive #senses #eyes #power
 
---------------
Poetry, blackberries, blood, coffee, creator, crimson, Faith, Family, fingers, fruit, God, hope, Nature, raspberries, blueberries, blue, red, ripe, summer, August, Realistic Poetry,
 
#poetry #blackberries #blood #coffee #colors #creator #crimson #Faith #Family #fingers #fire #fruit #God #hands #hope #Nature #raspberries #blueberries #blue #red #ripe #summer #August #RealisticPoetry #photograph #photography #imagination #poem #poetry

Crouched in the #blackberry bramble – v4

Crouched in the blackberry bramble,
surrounded by thorns, prickers,
an intricate dance to get there,
living barbed wire, razor wire,
tugging on my coat, my jeans
but not a stumbling block, not really
a man on a mission, a purpose,
lowering myself to the dark small fruit
gathering in, berry by sweet-tart-wet berry
scratches growing, a burgundy stain,
on eager fingertips, stretching, reaching.

 
A family of five, with pails and bowls,
short on patience, gatherers as of old,
of a simpler, primal age, these fruits,
foraging in woods, at the edge of fields,
finding food in the wild, untamed,
uncultivated, natural state, in nature
crouched in the blackberry bramble,
collecting tiny gems, tasty pearls
ready to melt on the tongue, that moment,
now swatting at mosquitoes that stalked us,
seeking to drive us from the field, their forest.

 
Watching for safety, the whereabouts,
of younger, fitful pickers, eager for fruit,
not the quest, the search, under leaves,
under branches, the clusters hidden, obscured,
shrouded from the view, the sight of less tenacious,
casual picker, distracted, no ready for the valiant,
eager for this fruit, this nectar, ambrosia,
the foods of the gods, the ancients before us;
Gather them in, them all in, for the pie,
the reward we seek, at the end of the work,
full true fruits of our labors, their taste.

 

------
Edited February 29, 2024
Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v4
 
edited August 28, 2019
Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble-v3.html
edited August 25, 2014
Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble-v2.html
August 31, 2006 9:22am
Crouched in the blackberry bramble
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble_31.html
&
Edited February 29, 2024
living goblets – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/living-goblets-v5.html
edited February 11, 2022
living goblets – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/living-goblets-v4.html
Edited after reading "Blackberries",
by Mary Oliver
&
edited November 28, 2019
living goblets – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v3.html
edited November 27, 2019
living goblets – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v2.html
November 27, 2019
living goblets
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-of-juice-of-nectar-no.html
&
edited November 28, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-cup-of-berries-v4.html
edited August 22, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-cup-of-berries-v3.html
edited June 21, 2014
A Cup of Berries – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-cup-of-berries-v2.html
August 10, 2008
A Cup of Berries
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/08/cup-of-berries.html
&
edited February 10, 2022
Apricot and Periwinkle – v7
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/apricot-and-periwinkle-v7.html
edited after reading “Little Sister Pond”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited March 21, 2021
Apricot and Periwinkle - v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/apricot-and-periwinkle-v6.html
edited May 5, 2018
Apricot and Periwinkle – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/05/apricot-and-periwinkle-v5.html
(editing version 4, adding 1^st stanza)
edited September 28, 2017
Apricot and Periwinkle – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/apricot-and-periwinkle-v4.html
edited January 18, 2016
Apricot and Periwinkle – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/apricot-and-periwinkle-v3.html
(merging edits to version 2 and original)
edited June 21, 2014
Apricot and Periwinkle – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/apricot-and-periwinkle-v2.html
Written 8/28/00 at 10:20 at night
Apricot and Periwinkle
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/sunset-seeing-colors.html
Written 8/28/00 at 10:20 at night 
Swain’s Lake, Barrington, NH
&
February 10, 2022
where they bedded for the night
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/where-they-bedded-for-night.html
written after reading “Little Sister Pond”,
by Mary Oliver
&
Edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred - v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v6.html
February 10, 2022
Gathering another branch
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/gathering-another-branch.html
written after reading "A Meeting"
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
Building their nest – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/building-their-nest-v2.html
February 7, 2022
Building their nest
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/building-their-nest.html
&
edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v5.html
edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v4.html
edited February 9, 2022
something ancient, sacred – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v3.html
edited after reading, “Crossing the Swamp”,
by Mary Oliver
&
Edited October 19, 2013
something ancient, sacred – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/something-ancient-sacred-v2.html
July 21, 2013
something ancient, sacred
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/something-ancient-sacred.html
about fishing trip
July 17, 2013
&
edited February 9, 2022
drawn to the source – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/drawn-to-source-v2.html
February 9, 2022
drawn to the source
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/drawn-to-source.html
written after reading, “The Fish” and
“Honey at the Table”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
Wooing the Darkness to Sleep – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/wooing-darkness-to-sleep-v2.html
February 9, 2022
Wooing the Darkness to Sleep
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/wooing-darkness-to-sleep.html
written after reading, “White Night”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
Her Lady Slipper – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/her-lady-slipper-v3.html
edited after reading “May”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v4.html
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v3.html
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v2.html
edited February 9, 2022
onto the water – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/onto-water-v2.html
February 8, 2022
onto the water
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/onto-water.html
about summer 2000,
written after reading "Blossom"
by Mary Oliver
&
February 8, 2022
at the edge of the lake
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake.html
about summer 2000,
written after reading "Morning on Great Pond"
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered-v3.html
edited February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered-v2.html
February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered.html
written after reading “Spring”
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
The bramble enticing – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-bramble-enticing-v2.html
February 8, 2022
the bramble enticing
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-bramble-enticing.html
Written after reading "Skunk Cabbage"
by Mary Oliver
&
February 6, 2022
Diatomaceous earth
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/diatomaceous-earth.html
Written after reading "Rain in Ohio",
By Mary Oliver
&
February 6, 2022
The raptors, their carrion
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-raptors-their-carrion.html
Written after reading "Vultures" by Mary Oliver.
&
January 3, 2022
A squadron of geese
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-squadron-of-geese.html
written after reading Clapp’s Brook by Mary Oliver
&
January 3, 2022
The bear cub
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-bear-cub.html
About drive out of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
after 2019 Stars Over Katahdin dark skies event. 
Drafted after reading first part of poem "Clapp's Brook" by Mary Oliver.
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, blackberries, blood, colors, creator, crimson, Faith, Family, fingers, fire, fruit, God, hands, hope, Nature, raspberries, red, ripe, summer, Lori Eldridge,
 
#poetry #blackberries #blood #colors #crimson #Faith #Family #fingers #fire #fruit #God #hands #Nature #raspberries #ripe #summer
 
poetry, August, blackberries, branches, burgundy, colors, creator, Faith, Family, fruit, God, grow, hope, leaves, ministry, Nature, Poetry Where You Live, raspberries, sight,
 
#poetry #August #blackberries #branches #colors #creator #Faith #Family #fruit #God #grow #hope #leaves #ministry #Nature #raspberries #sight
 

A ribbon of children – v2

Watching, silently,
on the edge of the playground,
a father dropping off children,
releasing them to the school…
 
Amid the controlled chaos
a living “Where’s Waldo” poster,
the schoolyard, playground this morning,
watching them forming, a living thread…
 
A ribbon of children,
running, skipping,
dancing across the blacktop,
as if stitched together, a line…
 
Being children, free,
out in the open air
snaking their way,
through the hopscotch court…
 
The jump rope,
the tag and the banter,
coursing, like ants to the nest,
following a scent line in the dust…
 
No hands were held,
but they moved together,
as if connected, giggling,
a ribbon of children, moving,
laughing as one…
 
----------------
Edited January 31, 2024
A ribbon of children – v2
 
Edited July 25, 2019
Ribbons of Children – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/ribbons-of-children-v3.html

April 28, 2013
A ribbon of children
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-ribbon-of-children.html

Edited April 24, 2013
Ribbons of Children – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/ribbons-of-children-v2.html
August 29, 2008
Ribbons of Children
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/08/ribbons-of-children.html
Pembroke Village School
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com  Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, August, chaos, child, control, creator, dance, faith poetry, Family, God, hands, laughing, NH, Pembroke Village School, play, schools, Shanequa, Shyanne, singing, Suncook NH,
 
#poetry #August #chaos #child #control #creator #dance #faithpoetry #Family #God #hands #laughing #NH #play #schools #Shanequa #Shyanne #singing #SuncookNH

Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v3

Crouched in the blackberry bramble

Surrounded by prickers, thorns

an intricate dance to get there

tugging on my coat, my jeans

but not a stumbling block, not really

a man on a mission, a purpose,

lowering myself to the dark small fruit

gathering in, berry by sweet-tart-wet berry

scratches growing, a burgundy stain

on eager fingertips, reaching.

A family of five, with pails and bowls,

short on patience, gatherers as of old

of a simpler, primal age, these fruits,

finding food in the wild, untamed,

uncultivated, natural state, in nature

crouched in the blackberry bramble

collecting tiny gems, tasty pearls

ready to melt on the tongue

swatting at mosquitoes that stalked us

that sought to drive us from the field, the forest.

Watching for the safety, the whereabouts

of younger, fitful pickers, eager for fruit,

not the quest, the search, under leaves,

under branches, the clusters hidden

shrouded from the view, the sight of less tenacious

eager for this fruit, this nectar, ambrosia,

the foods of the gods, the ancients before us;

Gather them in, them all in, for the pie

the reward we seek, at the end of the work

this full true fruits of our labors.

------

edited August 28, 2019

Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v3

edited August 25, 2014

Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble-v2.html

August 31, 2006 9:22am

Crouched in the blackberry bramble

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble_31.html

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 51,670+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

August, blackberries, branches, burgundy, colors, creator, Faith, Family, fruit, God, grow, hope, leaves, ministry, Nature, New Hampshire, Poetry Where You Live, raspberries, sight,

#August #blackberries #branches #colors #creator #Faith #Family #fruit #God #grow #hope #leaves #ministry #Nature #NH #raspberries #sight

Ribbons of Children – v3

Amid the controlled chaos on the playground

the gathering of children before school

the living “Where’s Waldo” poster

the schoolyard, playground this morning

ribbons of children, running, skipping,

dancing over the blacktop, together

being children, free, out in the open air

under a summer sky of blue

at the very start of the school year

snaking their way, through the hopscotch

the jump rope, the tag and the banter

coursing, like ants to the nest

following a scent line in the dust

no hands were held,

but they moved together

as if connected, giggling and

a ribbon of children, moving,

snaking a path through the others

giggling, shouting, laughing all the way

====================

edited July 25, 2019

Ribbons of Children – v3

(editing version 2)

Edited April 28, 2013

“A ribbon of children”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-ribbon-of-children.html

Edited April 24, 2013

“Ribbons of Children – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/ribbons-of-children-v2.html

August 29, 2008

“Ribbons of Children”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/08/ribbons-of-children.html

Pembroke Village School

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 51,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live. 

August, chaos, child, control, creator, dance, faith poetry, Family, God, hands, laugh, NH, Pembroke Village School, play, schools, Shanequa, Shyanne, sing, Suncook NH, way,

#August #chaos #child #control #creator #dance #faithpoetry #Family #God #hands #laugh #NH #play #schools #Shanequa #Shyanne #sing #SuncookNH #way

A Field of Ferns – v3

Above the bluff, the scar,

clear-cut of the power lines,

a forest of pine opens

where the deer come to graze

a broad flat plain.

Surrounded by conifers,

a field of ferns, rising on sturdy

erect stalks, broad leaves

to drink the shafts of light

falling briefly, through the canopy.

The tall mast pines, straight and true

red-brown needles, a carpet between

the ferns, the regal trees, an evenness

of surface, short pile rug, northward,

to Canada, as far as the eye can see.

Green ferns, red-brown needles,

green-brown trunks,

bright green needles

above, reaching to blue sky

the arc of the dome.

----

edited July 12, 2019

A Field of Ferns – v3

merging edits to original and version 2

edited

June 21, 2014

A Field of Ferns – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-field-of-ferns-v2.html

August 31, 2006 9:30am

A Field of Ferns

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/field-of-ferns_31.html

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 50,640+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live. 

August, blue, brown, creator, face, Faith, faith poetry, ferns, forest, God, green, hope, leaves, light, Nature, New Hampshire, pine trees, Poetry Where You Live, sing, sky,

#August #blue #brown #creator #face #Faith #ferns #forest #God #green #hope #leaves #light #Nature #pine #trees #sing #sky