I love to pick blackberries on Vashon Island
paying a blood price for this prickly
morsel of mother nature’s black magic

I walk the barnacled beach
with a soul mate at sun down
collecting sea shells
strewn in random on damp dark sand

We witness a kingfisher spear
into crystal blue Puget Sound then rise
with small fry wriggling in her beak

Carefree we prepare seafood
in the cabin at sundown
deftly chopping slicing and blending
lemon garlic and wine

– Tomas ‘03