The Anatomy of Mushrooms

The Anatomy of Mushrooms

Now, after all these years, I remember the woman, whom
I loved,
who casually mentioned that mushrooms reminded her of
penises,
though I cannot recall for sure if the comparison fascinated or
repelled her.
Soon after that conversation, she left me for another woman

and though I too have since fallen in love with and married
another woman, I often pause in the middle of lovemaking
to think about the fog-soaked forest into which we all travel
to think about the damp, dank earth into which we all plunge
our hands

to search for water and spore and root and loam
to search for water and room and roof and home.


Sherman Alexie............from One Stick Song