ENVIRONMENTAL Poem: Discoveries, by Annie Grace Bassage

On the walk today, I spotted a tiny piece of bright orange
Barely visible under a big brown oak leaf.
Smaller than an acorn,
with an outer ring
Like pith on an orange peel
I bent down, brushed the leaf aside
There. A round tiny orange, white rimmed
Miniature piece of woodland.

I took a picture with my phone and saw the name.
“Orange Peel Fungus” Yes!
Leaves lazying down, covered this orange peel.
I pushed them aside.
There. A tiny world

A range of sizes from dime to micro tiny
Shock of startling color
Honored that I can see and celebrate their
Miniscule beauty.

There in the woody, pebbly, sandy ground
Groupings of tiny orange peel fungi stood out.
I sat, curious, and watched.

I saw no arguing, no battering, no hate.
Tiny circles of orange peel
Friends
Neighbors
Communities

One alone here, two together near-by
A large family over there.
A village, maybe several …

Perhaps, a Kingdom.

Who looks down on us, minuscule creatures that we are
Bruising with aggression and dishonor?

May we discover what the fungus shows –
Community and simplicity – living together