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.
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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Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (7)
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.
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.
Stunning entry! It almost made me cry - beautiful imagery and a poignant message
Beautiful work, as always💕
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 :)
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.