Earthstars fall.
Remind me a little
of polystyrene or an egg box.
Disenchanted I Star Wars child
looking down on a space station,
a puff of magician’s smoke.
I am lost amongst the spores.
Neither mouse nor mycologist
I am back on the stage again.
I am back in my cage feeling
the muscles under my skin.
I am pulling splinters from my palm.
I am becoming a religious mystic,
reminded of the privilege of being here
in this damp woodland in spite of being
fallen, fallen, fallen, like these stars
from the Star of the King of Annwn.
*This poem is based on my first sighting of collared earthstars (Geastrum triplex) at Fishwick Bottoms Nature Reserve in Preston.
A bit of a swim from Northeast US! Beautiful though
As far as I’m aware they are native to Europe too although that might need further looking into.
Very curious – love the world of fungi!
I’ve never seen one! It makes me think of the lore of fallen angels: the fall was a descent into matter, the pulse of mystery through the material world that can open to the right touch at the right moment.
Appropriately beautiful and mysterious thoughts in addition to the poem and image of this being – thank you 🙂
To see a star shining in a damp woodland is indeed a privilege.