May 21, 2015

  • Looking Mossy

    I've always wondered about moss
    Can you eat it plain or with a sauce?
    Some is slick with a greenish gloss
    I've seen it brown when the green is lost
    Some believe it is merely dross
    Without hesitation give it a toss
    But for cushioning it is the boss
    And finding North when you come across
    Growing on trees with the bark emboss
    This is why I've always liked green moss

    Here is a little monorhyme poem for the May 2015 Scavenger Hunt using "moss" as the prompt. Traditionally moss has been very useful. It was used before Band-aids® as a wound dressing and has come full circle from antiquity to modern medicine. It is a useful landscaping element that creates an easy to maintain velvet carpet that is especially pleasant on bare feet. It has been used as a packing material to cushion everything from food to animals. It has been used as stuffing for bedding creating a soft and comfortable mattress. The Boy Scout Manual used to have a section on survival camping that included using moss as a compass assist. It is also still used by hikers as "nature's TP" when out on a trek far from modern conveniences. So besides being a habitat for a variety of invertebrates and a stabilizer of soil to prevent erosion, it is a very handy plant!!

Comments (12)

  • I never thought if it as TP. How funny. Better check the moss before eating it. :P

    • Hehe! Yeah, I'd rather not eat it unless in dire straits. However if I needed some biodegradable TP I wouldn't think twice!

  • My grandmother had moss in the shady part of her back yard, and yes, I remember liking it on bare feet when I was a kid.

    • My grandmother's side yard was small and very shady. It was filled with violets and moss from her house to Mrs. Phillip's house. It was a good spot to avoid the summer heat and cool bare feet!

  • Love the green moss!

  • I just love moss ~ so beautiful ~

  • Your poem reminds me of Dr. Seuss' work. I like moss though. It is so good to have a natural and organic coating a on stones and bricks and tree trunks.

    • The mossy stones near the water's edge and a shady tree are a visual delight. I'm flattered that my poem sounds seussical!

  • I like seaweed, but moss is a weed of a different texture.

    • Seaweed is delicious and I haven't tried to consume moss so I cant compare. However I'd much rather walk barefoot on a moss carpet than one made of seaweed! Especially since I can't swim!!

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