FFSC Poetry Contest Winners, May 2000

Snow melted. Dogwood flowers.

Friends around campfire.

Oh, Morchella, where are you?

— Bill Maxfield

My cousin, Sally Lehmann sent me this

poem for my birthday last September.

— Helen Sowers

Fair Helen stalks the woodland glen,

The fungi tremble, all.

Their posted sentries spread the word.

"She comes, she comes," they call.

"We're lost, we're lost," the boletes cry,

and Cantharellus wail.

There is no joy in mushroom hearts

When Helen's on their trail.

(Except of course for the death caps:

They just don't give a damn.)

— Sally Lehmann

It's a mean old Summer that ushers the sun back,

Chasing the clouds away

Making me long for days of

Rain.

Days where the drops create shimmering rainbows

Splashing through forest trees

Painting their dark green leaves with

Rain.

But now I must live with my pain, for

Cruel Summer has brought its dry change

A drought that must drive me insane

For nowhere in sight is there rain.

It's a beautiful vision when mushrooms surround me,

Chanterelles under oaks

Boletes 'neath the pines once

Again.

My dogs and I tromp among patches of glory.

The fungi have come alive

And joy has returned thanks to

Rain.

But this fantasy's just in my brain,

For the Summer is here with its pain,

Which will torture me 'til once again

Lovely winter returns my love

Rain.

— Anonymous FFSC Member

Stumbling with vine-torn pants

Spider's strands attack my eye

Trudging miles to secret haunts

Everything, everywhere completely dry

If I don't see a mushroom soon

I really think that I might die

Oh God, oh God, oh God

How I hate July.

— Scriptomyces suspectum