The central theme of the poem “Blackberries” by Yusef Komunyakaa is a young man’s day spent devouring handfuls of blackberries. Komunyakaa vividly describes the stains left by the juicy berries, as well as the memories they evoke. The narrator’s fingers are not only stained by the berries’ juices, but also by the blood from picking overly ripe ones. This poem explores the themes of forgiveness and how being in a limbo-like state can transform a person. Through the act of picking blackberries, the narrator symbolizes his desire for forgiveness.
In the poem, personal feelings are incorporated to create a sympathetic atmosphere while memories rise to the surface, filled with guilt. The narrator vividly describes having fresh, sticky juices stained on his hands, comparing it to a printer or thief being finger printed. The first two stanzas focus on the creation of blackberries, emphasizing their terrestrial sweetness. The mention of pies and cobbler adds a stronger taste and alludes to dessert. The phrase “almost Needful as forgiveness” suggests the narrator’s longing for forgiveness. In the last two stanzas, the narrator becomes more intimate.
The blackberries bring back memories for the narrator and remind him of something he needs forgiveness for. He mentions his bird dog Spot and how it used to observe blue jays and thrashers. He also recalls the mud frogs hiding in the rich darkness away from the daylight. These details help to create a vivid image of the poem’s setting. In the third stanza, it is as if the day is coming to an end. The narrator describes himself balancing a shining can in each hand, caught between worlds as he repeatedly says “one dollar.” This reference to being in limbo suggests that the narrator must seek forgiveness before he can progress toward his destiny of either heaven or hell.
The poem’s final stanza forms a memory for the narrator, merging with reality. He envisions himself as a young boy, picking ripe berries alongside a girl his age. This girl serves as a symbol for his desire for forgiveness. The narrator recalls his fingers burning with thorns among the berries he couldn’t touch. Thus, his day spent gathering blackberries becomes equally important to the forgiveness he seeks.
The two children’s imaginations may have alerted him to the fact that his hands were bleeding and wounded from the thorns of the berries. In my opinion, the poem “Blackberries” by Yusef Komunyakaa depicts a lost childhood spent picking blackberries under the summer sun. When reading this poem, one can sense the poet’s remorse for what could have been and how guilt can lead to a longing for forgiveness. The poem explores life’s beauty and the blackberries serve as a metaphor for the narrator’s childhood, while the thorns pricking his fingers symbolize the constant reminder of pain and anguish.
