Darlene Profitt
Blackberry Pickin’

Hot July sun beatin' down on our heads
Salty sweat stingin' our eyes
Hikin' to the top of the hill with ten-quart water buckets in tow
The top of the hill where the sweetest and biggest berries grow

Dad Mom big sister and me trudgin’
along the dusty road with a common goal:
Pick our buckets full and hurry home.
Big sister complaining every step of the way

Fingers throbbin’ stained with berry juice
Mingled with blood oozin’
from tiny pricks by angry briars
Without which the reward wouldn't be as sweet

Mouths dry from heat and thirst
Quenched with water
Warm as pee
shared from a mason jar

Buckets finally full and bellies growlin’
We begin the long walk home--steps quicken
With thoughts of fresh blackberry jam,
Butter newly-churned and hot, and cathead biscuits.

Darlene Profitt, an Insurance Agent at Nationwide in Prestonsburg the past four years, earned her Associate in Arts Degree from Big Sandy Community and Technical College. She has been married to her wonderful husband for 40 years and has four great children. She enjoys hiking, bowling, movies, and reading.