Raspberries
that scent in the guard’s van
Perth to Glasgow
heaving crates piled up – a tower
ten, twelve punnets in each
jostling to the train’s roll
behind their metal grille
stretch my fingers wide
spread octaves
claw like a wildcat at the high cage
scenting the prey
unloading fruit will come soon
hungry now
my small hand fits through the bars
fingers not long enough to
pincer even one fine berry
think to myself – I’m an Arrietty-girl
small enough to jump
soft contents one by one
burrow headfirst into the juicy mass
shimmering clusters of red
cocoon of lusciousness
surrounds my being
don’t have to be on guard –
a girl fulfilled in jammy bliss
Perth to Glasgow
heaving crates piled up – a tower
ten, twelve punnets in each
jostling to the train’s roll
behind their metal grille
stretch my fingers wide
spread octaves
claw like a wildcat at the high cage
scenting the prey
unloading fruit will come soon
hungry now
my small hand fits through the bars
fingers not long enough to
pincer even one fine berry
think to myself – I’m an Arrietty-girl
small enough to jump
soft contents one by one
burrow headfirst into the juicy mass
shimmering clusters of red
cocoon of lusciousness
surrounds my being
don’t have to be on guard –
a girl fulfilled in jammy bliss
Arriety – character from ‘The Borrowers’ by Mary Norton
This poem is copyright (©) Alison Campbell 2025

About the Writer
Alison Campbell
Alison loves reading poems and stories to her grandchildren (seven and four years) and they in turn love choosing books from the library to bring home. They also love writing and drawing in their notebooks.