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Humus Kasey Phifer Humus: organic matter that has reached a point of stability and will break down no further and if conditions do not change, could remain as such for centuries or longer. Doe, dead. one hundred and twenty-two pounds at the narrow shoulder of route two-eighty-two. For the sake of all white-tailed deer, for the sake of centuries and of unhewn stones, for the sake of all mothers, for the sake of ten thousand sycamore trees, for the sake of estuarine salt marshes, for the sake of sour-fleshed unripened wineberries and steamy afternoons, for the sake of slow autumns and reluctant december winds, for the sake of a doe, dead, we became humus. we became matter. we became centuries. we became summer sycamores. we became blue-finned tuna and beaked whales. And only for centuries we remained unchanged and broke down no further. And we became scattered teeth and dry bones.