Michael Spring
mud song
I walked past the Oregon ash
and cattails
through the soggy fields
of tufted hairgrass
to slow my thoughts
on cobra lilies and sphagnum moss
I’ve decided
I’m going to dedicate my life
to this field
and to its swamps and bogs
I’m fi nally listening
to the prophet of worms
and the gospel of mycelium and rock —
and there the turtle’s mantra —
and there the song that mud makes!
it rises like fog through my body
I’m on my hands and knees
watching as they disappear into the mud
I’m changing into a bear
or a stump or clump of berries —
no, I’m changing into a root
or tongue or tentacle
dancing the way roots dance
and cattails
through the soggy fields
of tufted hairgrass
to slow my thoughts
on cobra lilies and sphagnum moss
I’ve decided
I’m going to dedicate my life
to this field
and to its swamps and bogs
I’m fi nally listening
to the prophet of worms
and the gospel of mycelium and rock —
and there the turtle’s mantra —
and there the song that mud makes!
it rises like fog through my body
I’m on my hands and knees
watching as they disappear into the mud
I’m changing into a bear
or a stump or clump of berries —
no, I’m changing into a root
or tongue or tentacle
dancing the way roots dance
Page(s) 45
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