It was last winter while still cold and wet after snows had melted that the slender moss covered tree was serving as food for mushrooms that moved in as if overnight. A climbing wall of ivory steps circled the tree like a staircase without a bannister. The tree was still a teen when it was tipped and mildly uprooted seasons ago and it stopped living and growing and became a resting place for verdant velvet moss and then the mushrooms moved in and continued to feed on the tall and branchless evergreen. I could imagine the mushrooms decadently helping themselves to the sap within and beneath the outer bark growing intoxicated on the resin. The marrow of the tree made them bigger each day that it was dark and shady and overcast. Then one day a strong day of sunlight came to stay awhile.
And when I looked out again in the days that followed the days of light, I saw a shift had occured in so short a time; it caused me a moment of breathlessness. The steps to the light and open air had dried up and seemingly disappeared. And even the moss looked haggard and dry. Then I took note of new leaves beginning to uncurl in the maple tree outside my window and I knew that all was at it was meant to be. When is it not?
Mushrooms and moss feasting on sap
Sunlight silently scorching the mushrooms, dehydrating the moss
Mushrooms becoming part of the Earth's mulch and carpet of leaves
Moss hanging on till it was brittle and blown away by stronger winds
Earth being eaten by the Maple
Maple giving birth to tender new shoots
That would drink sunlight to create
Brilliant blood red berries calling
Birds small and agile to her limbs adorned with leaves and berries and blooms bursting white
Birds feasting on berries and seeds
Seeds carried far and wide to land again in potent soil further afield
That supports life and trees that support mushrooms and moss
When rain is followed by sun and sun is followed rain and sun and rain
Dance their dance of love and regeneration
And all things fall into chaos to be reorganized
Moisture and darkness as necessary as heat and light
Life supporting life. Light supporting life.
Oh blessed be the mushrooms about the moss covered tree that shadows the darkness and rains in the late winter that precedes springs novelties.
