Blueberries

Growing up, I had a box turtle and a desert tortoise.  The box turtle adored strawberries, until she dug out of her outside pen and walked away.  I doubt she found many strawberries out there in Minnesota, but maybe...

We have had the Chinese box turtle (Felix) since my son was five.  Nineteen years now.  Felix loves blueberries.  And Mighty Dog turkey dog food.  It hardly seems a balanced diet, especially for a turtle.  He is loathe to eat the mealworms and bugs we have offered from time to time.  It is time to take him for his vitamin shot.

They are one of the only things

The turtle will eat.

He extends his neck and

Pounces

On each one.

We watch for sales

On blueberries.

The turtle eats

Seven a day

In the summer.

We eat them

By the cupful,

Watch the labels on the container

Move north from Georgia to New Jersey,

West to Michigan by the beginning

Of August.

We used to time a visit

To southwest Michigan

For mid-summer,

Pick and bring home bags full

Of blueberries.

I understand the proper way to freeze them

Is in layers.

We never got to the freezing part.

Blueberries,

One of the very few things

The turtle will eat.

The other

Is Mighty Dog Turkey

dog food.