Strawberries are finally in season here in north-eastern Poland. This is my favorite time of year as I love strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, plums, and all the bounty of nature that is suddenly exploding.
Walking by one of the strawberry sellers today (one of many that set up on sidewalks around town), the scent of strawberries followed me. It reminded me of my early childhood summers spent on my uncle’s farm, where we (the children) picked strawberries (including wild strawberries), played in the forests, made homes among boulders, and swam in rivers filled with monsters that could pull you under. Along those rivers, I discovered tadpoles, crayfish, and leeches. The village people introduced me to old traditions of weddings in barns, fire cupping and leaches used as medical treatments, as well as stories of baba jaga living in a house on a chicken’s leg. The land was bruised and wounded by bombs – holes in the Earth that looked unnatural to my child eyes.
Writing prompt: Write a story or poem that features fruit. Maybe the scent evokes memories for one of the characters. Play around with the idea and see what you come up with.
Post your story/poem or link in the comments by July 6 to be included in the round up.