DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fantasy Fan, v. 2, issue 2, whole no. 14, October 1934

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Fantasy Fan, v. 2, issue 2, whole no. 14, October 1934

Page 24

24     THE FANTASY FAN, October, 1934

FUNGI FROM YUGGOTH

by H. P. Lovecraft

I. The Book

The place was dark and dusty and half-lost
In tangles of old alleys near the quays,
Reeking of strange things brought in from the seas,
And with queer curls of fog that west winds tossed.
Small lozenge panes, obscured by smoke and frost,
Just showed the books, in piles like twisted trees,
Rotting from floor to roof--congeries
Of crumbling elder lore at little cost.

I entered, charmed, and from a cobwebbed heap
Took up the nearest tome and thumbed it through,
Trembling at curious words that seemed to keep
Some secret, monstrous if one only knew,
Then, looking for some seller old in craft,
I could find nothing but a voice that laughed.

II. Pursuit

I held the book beneath my coat, at pains
To hide the thing from sight in such a place;
Hurrying through the ancient harbour lanes
With often-turning head and nervous pace.
Dull, furtive windows in old tottering brick
Peered at me oddly as I hastened by,
And thinking what they sheltered, I grew sick
For a redeeming glimpse of clean blue sky.

No one had seen me take the thing--but still
A blank laugh echoed in my whirling head,
And I could guess what nighted worlds of ill
Lurked in the volume I had coveted.
The way grew strange--the walls alike and madding--
And far behind me, unseen feet were padding.

(Note: These verses have never before been published.)

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24 THE FANTASY FAN, October, 1934 FUNGI FROM YUGGOTH by H. P. Lovecraft I. The Book The place was dark and dusty and half-lost In tangles of old alleys near the quays, Reeking of strange things brought in from the seas, And with queer curls of fog that west winds tossed. Small lozenge panes, obscured by smoke and frost, Just showed the books, in piles like twisted trees, Rotting from floor to roof--congeries Of crumbling elder lore at little cost. I entered, charmed, and from a cobwebbed heap Took up the nearest tome and thumbed it through, Trembling at curious words that seemed to keep Some secret, monstrous if one only knew, Then, looking for some seller old in craft, I could find nothing but a voice that laughed. II. Pursuit I held the book beneath my coat, at pains To hide the thing from sight in such a place; Hurrying through the ancient harbour lanes With often-turning head and nervous pace. Dull, furtive windows in old tottering brick Peered at me oddly as I hastened by, And thinking what they sheltered, I grew sick For a redeeming glimpse of clean blue sky. No one had seen me take the thing--but still A blank laugh echoed in my whirling head, And I could guess what nighted worlds of ill Lurked in the volume I had coveted. The way grew strange--the walls alike and madding-- And far behind me, unseen feet were padding. (Note: These verses have never before been published.)