Warning
After Bitter Poisonpie (Hebeloma sinapizans)
All parts are poisonous. The stem and root,
the toxic leaves and flowers, blushing red.
The faint outline of skulls on every fruit;
inviting you to taste and be misled.
These fatal blossoms, gathered from the verge
are willing you to eat and meet your end.
Your heart will quicken and your blood will surge;
you might not even last till next weekend.
What hurt could come from eating foraged food?
How can the woodland seek to cause us harm?
Yes, nature can be fierce and cruel and shrewd –
this greenery is dangerously armed.
Don’t mess with toxic flowers, blushing red;
just spring for fish and chips for tea instead.
LM
Listen to the poet perform the poem here.
Image via unsplash.com
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