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The Empty Bough

A lament from late spring

By Sonia Heidi UnruhPublished about a year ago 1 min read
The Empty Bough
Photo by Edward Ji on Unsplash

Darling, we missed the mulberries again.

I watched the tiny leaves uncurl, the green buds swell,

Savoring, as I do each spring, the hope -- the miracle --

The sweetness set to burst from barren limbs.

Remember our first summer, purple stains on lips, on sheets?

Attempting berry jam, laughing when it spilled,

Confident we'd try again next year.

Then next spring came, and you got your promotion,

I buried myself in this project and that.

O darling, we were remodeling the kitchen,

Now fallen fruit lies withered in the grass.

nature poetrysad poetry

About the Creator

Sonia Heidi Unruh

I love: my husband and children; all who claim me as family or friend; the first bite of chocolate; the last blue before sunset; solving puzzles; stroking cats; finding myself by writing; losing myself in reading; the Creator who is love.

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  1. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

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    The story invoked strong personal emotions

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Comments (7)

  • Testabout a year ago

    how this was not in the winning entries, I'll never know. Vocal often gets it wrong, sad really, but what can you do with a vanity platform. At least it wasn't a limerick for $2000...this was my favorite of all I read, Sonia - whatever that's worth.

  • Mackenzie Davisabout a year ago

    Oh my goodness, this was remarkably beautiful. 😵 I haven’t read a poem that achieves the objective correlative this perfectly in a long time. Fantastic job with the acrostic prompt; I hope this one places! “Darling, we missed the mulberries again” —immediately hooked, plus, chills at the frankness of the phrasing, and all that it implies or will imply. “Now fallen fruit lies withered in the grass”—objective correlative at its finest. Can’t begin to explain how much I admire this line. 🤯💜

  • May the birds be blessed with what you have missed & may you find the time to receive this latter blessing of song, sight & flight.

  • Beth Sarahabout a year ago

    Stunning entry! It almost made me cry - beautiful imagery and a poignant message

  • Chloë J.about a year ago

    Beautiful work, as always💕

  • Heather Hublerabout a year ago

    This was just lovely. The flow, the word choices, and that last line. I can see the relationship pulled apart by the every day. Great work, Sonia :)

  • Testabout a year ago

    now, this. this is a lovey piece. It requires nothing extra. It flows beautifully, through itself and time, from line to line. Its depth is immediately apparent but never forced. It is a bittersweet pleasure to read, and again.

Sonia Heidi UnruhWritten by Sonia Heidi Unruh

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