Opposite Directions
~After taking a class on growing mushrooms on a toilet paper roll
You— body of mycelium— spawn above
my kitchen sink, chaste in a cabinet
spinning toilet paper’s cellulose
to oyster mushrooms. Our bodies—
yours and mine—pass each other
in opposite directions: yours grows,
spores spreading in the moistened ply,
as mine retreats into wrinkles
and tired joints grateful for balm.
O, to see your coming bloom
now I’ve left mine far behind,
how those prolific pins become caps
and gills, triumph after your
ropeless climb up the nourishing
roll. High above my kitchen sink
you hide—still pre-bloom—behind
cabinet’s door, just as I do—
post bloom—from mirrors.
15 thoughts on "Opposite Directions"
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As we speak, I’m working on poem about growing mushrooms! This poem has great rhythm and concision. Bravo!
I love the personification of the mushroom and your carefully crafted words to show the similar. Great ending.
lol ~After taking a class on growing mushrooms on a toilet paper roll
I echo your words to Danielle, “You ARE a good mushroom!”
Adore: Our bodies—
yours and mine—pass each other
in opposite directions: yours grows,
spores spreading in the moistened ply,
as mine retreats into wrinkles
and tired joints grateful for balm.
Nancy IS a good mushroom! I loved that chunk too!!
There’s Nancy – making magic mushrooms from toilet paper! (Oysters are so good!) I love how this poem evolves and grows with your own magic of words. This might be one of my favorites of yours!
I simply must learn how to grow mushrooms too, Nancy! Your poem is delicious in more ways than one.
So much to enjoy here. But I love the movement in “pass each other/in opposite directions: yours grows,/…/as mine retreats”
SAME!
Such an unlikely juxtaposition (you & the mushroom), but it works! You spun some poetry magic there.
This is an incredible poem that really underscores something beautiful about both mushrooms and the body. I really enjoyed the inclusion of caps and gills.
Yay, for oysters…..we have inoculated with blue as well…lol
We could start a cult…. 😀
The whole poem is so wonderfully creative, seeing in the mushrooms a way to tackle the aging of the body.
I agree with Kevin–your poem is delicious in so many ways. This is one of my favorites of yours.
I really like how you mirror “bloom and post-bloom.”
What a wonderful poem and fresh perspective. “spinning toilet paper’s cellulose
to oyster mushrooms.”–beautiful sound and word choices. Love this!