This poem is part of the special section, New Poems of U.S. History, reflecting on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence selected by editors Carolivia Herron, Summer Tate, and Robert Bettmann....
Little Creatures
The teacher who looked ancientto her circle of first gradersleaned forward and explained
that the typical lightning bugwas simply the twinklein an angel’s eye,...
Touch
From our family bones make marsh-duffsoil, salt, a kingdom of seedling, stalk—Drinking purple dawn, we wade in the strangeautumnal songs, swallow sunshine, sweet cornskin,...
Modern Prometheus
“I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one of simpler organization; but my imagination...
Red-eye
Wake up in harsh lighting,startled by an announcement.There is a sudden shift fromeight hours of sittingto scurrying about your seat.Pull bags down from bins,drag...
