Out of season

Perhaps a bit late in the season

these blackberries appear

some green, some just reddening

some ripe, ready to be picked

but it's almost Advent

and we're moving on

Instead of filling jam jars

or scrumptious pies

these berries will feed birds

or simply die on the tree

their season has come and gone.

And as we await with anticipation

the one who comes into the world

new born and full of hope

we are painfully reminded

that this promise of life

was out of season too

never allowed to ripen

but also left

to die on the tree

Such are the vagaries

of (human) nature.

Liz Crumlish November 2011