An Interview With Lesley Wheeler on Mycocosmic

Shenandoah intern Ellis Nicholson sat down with poetry editor Lesley Wheeler to talk about Mycocosmic, her sixth poetry book which was released in March.

Nicholson: What inspired the title Mycocosmic, and how does it reflect the themes of your poetry collection?

Wheeler: Mycocosmic is an invented word meaning something like “universe of fungus.” The book reveals my ongoing obsession with mycelium, the underground organism from which mushrooms occasionally sprout, and I wanted the title and cover to hint at that element. I also like the weirdness associated with the word “cosmic” for this book, which contains a number of spooky poems and poetic spells.

N: Throughout Mycocosmic, there’s a strong connection between nature, science, and human experience. How do you balance these elements in your writing?

W: I’m no scientist, much less a mycologist, but I find science endlessly inspiring. Reading science news and going down research rabbit holes helps me get out of my own limited perspective and see my struggles in relation to greater forces. In a technical way, I also like the texture of different jargons. Diction that’s not traditionally poetic can make a poem pop. You just have to make sure that the terminology is easy to look up so you don’t leave the reader behind.

N: Fungi are a recurring motif in the book—can you elaborate on the role they play both symbolically and literally in your work?

W: Eighty percent of plant life is dependent on fungus in some way. Many people have heard of the “wood wide web”--how mycelium, in an invisible, subterranean way, helps trees communicate and share nutrients. Certain fungi also enable landscapes to recover from fire and pollution. They give me hope that with a little fungal assistance, human beings can remediate the mess we’ve made of the planet. For a long time, though, I didn’t know how this preoccupation related to another big subject of this book, my mother’s death in 2021. The answer, I eventually realized, is that fungi break down dead plant and animal matter into material that can nourish new life. I needed to learn how to metabolize death and grief, as they do.

N: What was the most challenging poem or section to write in Mycocosmic, and why?

W:Some of these poems work through shame more openly than my previous poems did. I found that really difficult emotionally but also in craft terms: how do you portray your own failures without self-pity or defensiveness, while also, perhaps, allowing yourself some mercy?

N: How does the structure of Mycocosmic contribute to the overall experience you want to create for the reader?

W:The most prominent structural element of Mycocosmic is “Underpoem [Fire Fungus],” a verse essay that runs a line at a time across the bottom of every page. I hope it helps readers encounter the book in multiple ways: you can get absorbed by reading the poems individually and in sequence, but also look for relationships between the book’s above- and below-ground worlds. The underpoem is tonally a little more serious than my poem “Rhapsodomancy,” but I’m glad you mentioned it! Rhapsodomancy means divination by poem. Each numbered section corresponds to a numbered card in Tarot’s Major Arcana, although I interpret them playfully. When I read this poem at an event, I first ask people to identify a problem they’re mulling over then choose a number between 0 and 21. (If you’re reading this, pause and do it, too!) Then read or listen to “Rhapsodomancy” and wait for the number you’ve chosen to give you all the answers.

N: How do you know when a poem is “done”? Are you ever hesitant to let go of a piece of writing?

W:Honestly, when I think I know a poem is done, I’m usually deluded. It’s really hard to be objective about your own work. I let a poem rest then revise, get feedback, revise, and repeat the process, sometimes many times. It’s not so much that you ever finish a piece as that you get as far as you can with it as the person you currently are.

N:What advice would you give to aspiring poets who want to tackle complex, interdisciplinary themes like the ones in Mycocosmic?

W: Follow the spark. If it seems like it can’t be poetry, that’s just because you haven’t found the on-ramp yet. It’s out there. Our quirky obsessions can actually be the most interesting things about our work, in the end. I knew, as I wrote this book, that fungus was having a cultural moment, but it’s still wonderful, when I give readings, to sense mutual excitement and awe in the room. A lot of people are fascinated by all things mycological. It turns out fungi connect poets and audiences, too.

N:How can readers find out more about Mycocosmic?

W:Check out “10 Questions for Lesley Wheeler” at Poets & Writers or Episode 15 of the podcast Drunk as a Poet on Payday. I’m also happy to talk to book clubs, visit classes, and more. Find me at my website or on social media as @LesleyMWheeler.