The Mushrooms Come

From moss and loam

the mushrooms come.

From bark on trees, 

from crumbling logs,

from musty leaves,

the mushrooms come.

From vast pale networks

underground

they shoulder up

without a sound;

they spread their damp

umbrella tops

and loose their spores

with silent pops.

Unbuttoning the forest floor,

the mushrooms come,

the mushrooms come.

Like noses pink

in midnight air

like giants' ears,

like elfin hair,

 like ancient cities

built on cliffs,

the mushrooms come,

the mushrooms come.
                            ~ Joyce Sidman

* * * * *

I wandered through the children's section of the library recently and discovered a wonderful poetry book, Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Rick Allen. Together they've created a gorgeous book of poems and illustrations about nature. The poems are easy to understand and the illustrations are fascinating. Not only are her poems wonderful, but along with each poem she has nature facts that relate to the poem. I think any child would love this look about nature. I I know I do! It will be joining my library very soon.