Poetry
After the Chemicals Decay
by Claire McNerney
Flowers returning to the land—
beyond rusted landfill, greener, southward.
Here, night breezes whisper, and
tug hinged fins of windmills to fan.
New-old township radiates outward:
flowers returning to the land.
Permaculture gardens fill up their cans,
no longer burdened by the drought-lord
here. Night breezes whisper and
sing to the now visible stars. Damned
old cities rot rust, new trees sprout upward,
flowers returning. To this land
we run, hand in metal hand.
Breathe fresh air, we can shout words
here, knight. Breezes whisper, and
animals sigh, unmanned.
Sitting, resting, free from forward—
flowers returning to the land,
here night breezes whisper “and.”
Featured Poet of the Month Claire McNerney
Claire McNerney writes, creates, and performs in her home state of California. Their writing appears in Haven Spec, Los Suelos, and Saving Daylight. She guest edited the 50th issue of Eye to the Telescope, and her poem in Sprawl Mag was nominated for Best of the Net 2024. She enjoys, among other things, visiting the ocean at night. Visit her on instagram @o.h.c.l.a.i.r.e or at clairemcnerney.com!