Blackberries for Amelia

The first thing I noticed about this poem is it seems to be a big metaphor. It took me a while to find exactly what that metaphor was, but I have found that it’s probably about the younger generation replacing the older generation, but in a good way. What makes me believe that the replacing of the generations is in a good way, is the tone. The poem has a relaxed and gentle tone, which is in no way bitter or sorrowful. The new blackberries blossoms seem to represent the children, the new generation, “(…) are small, five petalled blooms of chalky white, as random-clustered and as loosely strewn.” This quote describes children perfectly by using the word “small” and when he uses “loosely strewn” to me, that represents how a child is free and has millions of opportunities within their grasp. When the blossoms turn to berries I believe that they are what the older generation are, and how everyone starts as a blossom, but then eventually over time they turn to a ripe berry so sweet and full of knowledge. This next quote is something I think describes the feelings of the older generation. “As the far stars, of which we now are told that ever faster do they bolt away, and that a night may come in which, some say, we shall have only blackness to behold.” The quote seems to bring up death and how everything fades away as people get older and life starts to come to an end. But, ending on a good note, the poem describes picking the berries and how much they enjoy the time they have with the younger generation and the great memories that come along with it. Overall, I think this poem is just an older person coming to terms with the aging process and the fact that life will soon come to an end, but this person doesn't take for granted the best memories in life like picking berries with the grandchild in the sweet August time.