An Offering of Juices

a poem on small indulgences despite big, loud news

Jul 08, 2025

Hi, I’m Deidre. Every week, I write or podcast about theology, poetry, or the re-enchantment of life. I believe that life is more wondrous than we realize and that heaven is far closer than we imagine. If that’s your jam, I hope you’ll subscribe.

Before you move onto the poem, I wanted to tell you that I recently had the chance to sit down with my new friend

Janet S Abadir

and talk about overachievement and God’s sweet, sweet gentleness. If you’re looking for an encouraging listen this week, I really think you’ll enjoy it. You can listen to it here:

Drink from the River of Delight

From Over-Achieving To Gentleness

I sat down with Deidre Braley, poet, editor, writer, teacher, wife, and mother. She shares her journey and her heart with us in a beautiful way…

Listen now

7 days ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Janet S Abadir

a person holding raspberries in their hand — Photo by DashLight Photography on Unsplash

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

AN OFFERING OF JUICES

After a mid-July rain,
I crouch in the baptized underbrush
of raspberries so wild and
delicate they dissolve in my hands;
little beetles find shelter
in their opulent seams of
juice.

I smile to myself, fill the cup of my palm with
this small indulgence

            [so much care and
            forethought for this one bite
            of natural treasure.

            His fingers will be tense and I’ll pull them open,
            will push this offering into his hand
            and kiss his knuckles and
            watch him feel nine years old
            in Mapleton again].

Inside, a box on the wall screams that the nations
are falling apart, yet I still fold the fruit
into my husband’s hand, still watch him press them
to his tongue 
until the juices
bleed out and 
a red raspberry stream 
comes to stain 

his delicious lips.

P.S. Did you catch my interview with
Emily Curzon
, author of We Have This Hope?

She brought some gorgeous insights on the art of remembering as a spiritual discipline and how it trains us to live with our eyes wide open. (Also, she inspired me to buy a weighted vest.)