For the umami

· by · in dVerse, prosery. ·

You might not believe me, but I never foraged for mushrooms to get high,

I did it only for umami.

I’ve always felt connected to mycelium, the underground part of a fungi living with trees and prefer to stay hidden until it exposes itself in a stately mushroom.

They are like the masses of people, a strong undercurrent that only makes itself heard when needed. Sometimes with poison, sometimes delicious, or as magic, which you told me about.

Later I sit, my back to a tree, nibbling a bit, listening to clouds, forming, reforming into apparitions of riders. I open my mind to what’s purple and the iridescent image swims through.A mirror that flows in between myself and sky that’s aflame … before it grows dark.

I wake with a headache, drumbeats inside and ravaged by thirst I go down to the lake.

Two snails
Jacek Yerka

Today Dora hosts dVerse Prosery where we should weave in the line:

. . . and the iridescent image swims
through a mirror that flows.

by Stanley Kunitz from the poem King of the River.

August 17, 2026

33 responses to “For the umami”

  1. Now that’s different, Björn! I admire anyone who forages and has a good knowledge of mushrooms – I’d only poison someone by mistake. Fungi are so interesting, no wonder they’re considered to be magic and connected to fairies.

  2. Love the deft use of the given line! You draw us into a mood, Björn, half-lackadaisical and half-hallucinatory, of blissful, other-worldly sensations. Until reality knocks, that is. 🙂

  3. I love this, and I feel the same way. I say all the time that I would prefer mushrooms as my “meat” source. There is nothing better than that texture and flavor. I love the mystical journey woven through your storytelling as well.

  7. Well, now .. Bjorn and mushrooms, who would have thought? Mushroom hunting and consuming where I live are quite popular, my granddaughter and grandson are really knowledgeable about species, etc.

    I thoroughly enjoyed your prose.

  11. WoW.

    I did it only for umami… I laughed at this…

    And the passage about feeling close to the mushrooms is quite… Relatable…

    also I love the way you used the prompt line… It’s super natural here given that it may be something someone tripping may see.

  12.  Sometimes with poison, sometimes delicious, or as magic,

    Yes, Bjorn there are cases of poisoning even fatal for those who stumbled upon them not knowing of the danger!

    Hank

  13. Love this, Björn! It felt like science book meets J.R.R. Tolkien! In fact, it rather felt like you were simply telling us what you did at the weekend 🙂

  15. Neat artwork you chose to accompany. I had to look up umami. Interestingly I’m eating a delicious bowl of hot and sour soup while reading and commenting. I love how you articulated the umami of your experience.

  17. I live close to a district noted for its magic mushrooms, deadly, pretty, high, high, high by licking. I so enjoyed this story and I love how you used the line. And of course the title, a fifth sense, 5 being prime and all.

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