WHO AM I?

 I’m short, squat, gnomelike, and stubby.

When found, I’m unwashed, smelly, dirty, and grubby.

In woodlands, choose me if you dare,
Using awareness, caution, and utmost care.

Careful! My family’s known for its lethality.

Choose well, or expect untimely fatality.

The world’s finest cuisine is often graced

With my exotic, unmistakably exquisite taste.

They keep me in the dark– it’s bullshit that they feed me.

To meet demands of market– that’s why they need me.

If I’ve been cultivated on a farm,
Consume me with gusto; fear no harm.

Will Walsh