Read the poem ‘Mushrooms’ by Myronn Hardy
Bates College professor’s new poem “Mushrooms” graces Maine’s latest poetry anthology
A fresh verse collection, Deep Water: Maine Poems, has added a new voice to its pages. The anthology, a collaboration between the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and local poets, published a poem titled “Mushrooms” by Myronn Hardy, an associate professor of English at Bates College.
Hardy, whose book Aurora Americana was released by Princeton University Press, is also a recipient of a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship. He has long been active in the literary community, with poems appearing in the New York Times Magazine, POETRY, The New Republic, and the Massachusetts Review.
The poem itself is a celebration of foraging and collective freedom, described in the anthology’s introduction as a “spacious joy” that “embodies in feet and movement.” Hardy’s verses begin with a call to gather morels and chagas, then turn into a rhythmic depiction of dancing through damp earth, “circles in the soil in the leaf litter” and “the breeze in circles circling us.” The lines culminate in an image of “building a kingdom with turquoise roads” and a declaration of liberation: “No one, no thing oppressed. Believe me. Believe us.”
The anthology is not simply a showcase of new work; it also serves as a platform for underrepresented writers. “Deep Water is especially eager to share poems by Black writers, writers of color, indigenous writers, LGBTQ+ writers, and other under‑represented voices,” the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance says. As part of that mission, submissions remain open through the end of the year, encouraging poets to join the conversation.
Megan Grumbling, a Portland‑based poet and writer who contributed to the anthology’s production, noted that “Mushrooms” appears by permission of the author. She added that the anthology’s goal is “to bring a diverse range of Maine’s poetic talent to a broader audience.”
The publication’s release comes at a time when Maine’s literary scene is expanding its outreach. The Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance has long promoted local writers through workshops, readings, and collaborations such as this anthology.
Poets interested in submitting their own work can find more information at the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance website (https://www.mainewriters.org/deep-water). The deadline for submissions is the end of the calendar year, offering writers a chance to be featured in the next edition of Deep Water.
