Month of rot

· by · in dVerse, poetry. ·

We call August month of rot
when growth of plants has ceased
and fungus, mold, and microbes rule,
when we preserve, ferment and pickle
to transform our harvests into food
instead of muck
It’s the time when we divide
the good from bad, when only our knowledge
save us from ergot-infused illusions
death caps or destroying angels.

I sit before my screen to make plans
for how my life will be
when I make rules that are only owned by me,
what are the microbes that can preserve?
which fungi can destroy, and which to eat?
what acts will build and where’s decay?

How should I act in this month of rot?

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Today Merrill wants us to write about transitions at dVerse which of course is something that marks August. In Sweden, we call this period “Rötmånad” (month of rot) and according to old traditions, this is a period when milk goes sour, vegetables rot and people get sick It is also used as a metaphor for strange (fake) news. Rot and fermentation are also processes that humans have learned to handle and utilize to our benefit in making bread, wine, saurkraut, and ale. I think of my own change a bit like rot too, and maybe we have a similar choice between maturing and decaying.

August 15, 2023

30 responses to “Month of rot”

  1. This is exquisitely drawn, Bjorn! I resonate with; “It’s the time when we divide the good from bad, when only our knowledge save us from ergot-infused illusions death caps or destroying angels.” 💙💙

    Good to have you back! 😀

  2. This is an interesting time to be in the “month of rot.” I see that other communities are already preparing for canning with baskets of tomatoes. I like the second part, where you draw the questions on your next phase of your life. It will be an interesting journey for sure.

  3. What a coincidence, Björn, my husband collected a pile of rotting apples from our garden this afternoon. I remember, when I lived in Germany, pickling, bottling and preserving produce from the garden, and my favourite was fruit soaked in alcohol. I like the way you compare those activities with your plans for the future.

  4. rot is itself the transitioner between fresh and decay – bottling the harvest keeps that in stasis . I like how you ventured into the second verse with thoughts of the

  5. The month of rot! I prefer transformations. Isn’t that what rot does, too? 🙂
    I like how you move into the new transition of your life–what you should preserve and what will rot.

  6. I like your use of division (whether intentional or not) within your poem.
    “instead of muck” serves as a divider between the harvesting pieces and the more “abstract” pieces. Then you leave a space between all that and your plans.
    All good things to consider, and especially how we will act, as it always begins and ends with us.

  10. What a deep memory in this transition, when saving what could be from the last harvest meant survival through the winter. I say let the earth feast on homo sapiens in the month of rot.

  11. An excellent metaphor for transition, cooking – preserving – storing for the winter and making plans for moving forward – masterful. Oh and please share fermenting recipes – in poetic form naturally…

  13. Love the parallel that you have drawn here, so exquisitely. It is nice to see August used as a transition of sorting out the good and the not so good. We tend to leave that to New Year’s….but why? Nice to “see” you again, Bjorn. 🙂

  15. I’ve never heard August called a month of rot but it makes so much sense. When you go to clear your garden and all the old flowers are getting slimy and rotted. Now that I live in the south it is a bit different. Things will start thriving now that the heat is subsiding a little.

  16. How should I act in this month of rot?

    Apparently it is acting quite it’s own way imposing without extending much choice. Life changing in a way from fairly warm to the impending cold! Barely much choice!

    Hank

  19. Brilliant. We do have choices. This one resonates strongly with me even though here in New Zealand it’s a frosty month. Three people died of mushroom poisoning in Australia recently…

  21. So interesting to hear that bit of Swedish tradition/culture. I do understand the process though as a month of rot. Somehow, I do believe you will rejuvenate rather than rot in your rejuvenatement (never say re-tire-ment)!

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