Champignons Poem by Jan Wagner

we met them in the woods within a clearing:
two expeditions passing through the twilight
eyeing one another silently. between us the nervy
telegraphic buzzing of a swarm of gnats.

my grandmother was renowned for her recipe
for champignons farcis. she locked it
in her grave. whatever's good, she said,
needs filling with little more than with oneself.

later in the kitchen we held
the mushrooms to our ears as we turned the stems -
listening for the gentle clicking from inside,
as we tried to hit on the right combination.

Translation: Georgina Paul