Black Rasberrries

I reach for the plumpest berry
barely hanging on the vine
it exlpodes at the slightest touch
I pop it into my mouth
and look at the deep crimson juice
congealing on my fingers
I lick it off
smile
and reach for another
I swat at the thick mass of bugs
and close my eyes tight against a kamikaze flier
scratch
and reach for another
the prickers slide up my arm
stabbing and fighting to keep what they believe is theirs
but that berry's mine
and I put it on my tongue
savor it
feel it glide down my throat
and reach for another
because I won't stop until my fingers are stained a purplish black
until the bugs have had their fill of me
until the prickers have drawn red lines up and down my forearms
until I've had my fill of the freshest berries
so
I reach for another