Blackberry Ballad

Down by the river the blackberry vines
have faded and fallen, have browned and declined
have given the ghost up, have fled the dead ground.
No berries were borne where the vines were torn down.

The banks of the river are rocky and bare
where blackberry flowers had floated in air
last summer when swallows were swooping above
and blackberry kisses meant falling in love.

The swallows are gone and the lovers have flown
and the river flows sadly and sings all alone:
“I’ve lost the companions who used to be mine,
bring back the lovebirds and blackberry vines.”