The Black Berry－wears a Thorn in his side－1
But no Man heard Him cry－
He offers His Berry, just the same
To Partridge－and to Boy－
He sometimes holds upon the Fence－5
Or struggles to a Tree－
Or clasps a Rock, with both His Hands－
But not for Sympathy－
We－tell a Hurt－to cool it－9
This Mourner－to the Sky
A little further reaches－instead－
Brave Black Berry－
But no Man heard Him cry－
He offers His Berry, just the same
To Partridge－and to Boy－
He sometimes holds upon the Fence－5
Or struggles to a Tree－
Or clasps a Rock, with both His Hands－
But not for Sympathy－
We－tell a Hurt－to cool it－9
This Mourner－to the Sky
A little further reaches－instead－
Brave Black Berry－
(F.548/J.554)
[1] Black Berry:: a man's nickname, a peddler selling berries, an African American possibly but not necessary. Thorn:: a stick to support his leg; something grief, troublesome.
[3, 4] offers, Partridge, Boy:: a man with kind heart.
[5–8] holds, struggles, clasps, hands, sympathy:: a hint on his leg's disability.
[9] Hurt:: a sorrowful scene, cooled by telling it.
[10, 11] Mourner, reaches:: he reaches his hands higher to support his body.
[12] Brave:: brave in his attitude.
Common Bramble, or Black-berry. Few are unacquainted with a plant whose fruits are so pleasing to the simple taste of childhood, and whose white flowers, sometimes tinged with pink, decorate every hedge during July and August. ─ Wild Flowers (1852)