The Renewable Forest

The atmosphere suffused with moisture
belying a hot and dry summer. Early
fall's flirtation with cold, wind and
rain in a counterbalance is bridging
the deficit. Mid-afternoon and the
forest interior is beset with dusk
yet above the dense green canopy
and despite the low ceiling of dirty
clouds a glow and glimmer of light
prevails appearing to find its echo
on the forest floor where colonies of
large white fungi, cup-shaped, saucers
and fluted occupy spaces beneath the
understory of blush-leafed dogwood
among the bracken, their shapely edges
round or scalloped a bounty of nature's
endless elaboration of her creative
capacity for renewal partnering the
forest mass of decaying matter with
avid microbes achieving her cycle.