The poem “Blackberry-Picking” is about a childhood experience that teaches a lesson about life, beauty, and loss. The poet remembers how he and others used to pick blackberries during late August when they were ripe and sweet.

The Joy of Picking: At the end of summer, when it rained and the sun shone for many days, the blackberries became ripe. At first, only one or two berries would turn dark purple. The others were still red or green. The poet remembers tasting the first ripe one—it was sweet and juicy, like “thickened wine.” After tasting it, he wanted to pick more and more. Because the taste created a strong desire to collect as many as possible.

The children took milk cans, jam jars, and tins. They went around the fields and hedges to pick blackberries. They worked hard, even though the thorns scratched their hands. The wet grass made their boots dirty. Their hands got pricked by thorns, and their palms became sticky with juice. Still, they kept filling their containers until they were full of shiny, dark blackberries.

The Sad Ending: After picking, they stored all the berries in a shed (called a “byre”). But after a short time, the berries began to rot. A gray fungus started growing over them. The sweet smell turned into a stinking one. The poet, as a boy, felt very sad because all the lovely blackberries they collected were spoiled.

He says it did not feel fair that the fruits did not last long. Every year, he hoped that maybe this time the berries would stay fresh. But deep inside, he knew they would always rot.

Deeper Meaning: The poem shows how the poet learned a truth about life and disappointment. When we are young, we chase after things that bring us pleasure — like sweet blackberries. But nothing lasts forever. Just as the berries rot, happiness and beauty also fade with time. The poem beautifully moves from the joy of childhood to the sadness of growing up. It shows how Seamus Heaney connects simple country life with deep human emotions.