In a poignant vow to Micronesia, Guamanian storyteller, Catherine Payne, hurls words like Chamorros sling stones to challenge colonial consequences and climate injustice. A powerful plea for the land's healing and restoration of hope.

Wildlife photographer and conservationist, Tania Roa, outlines the importance of a holistic approach to protecting the environment which includes humans who live amongst the species. She details the intricacies of several animals’ behavior and their vital role in our natural cycles. She advocates for embracing our interconnectedness with the natural world — to humble ourselves by realizing that we are not superior to any other animal.

I Am From by Madison Adderley, in simple terms, draws upon nostalgic tones and the sunlit spot in her grandmother’s garden. It acts as an omnipresent narrator to explore the heritage origins lost in colonialism, concoctions brewed at the table, and communal grief.

Tree and Fruit by Madison Adderley meditates on the parallels between the connection between a mother and child and the innate bond between the islander and nature. Its setting is a frigid desolation as it encapsulates the despondent yearning of one orphaned from the verdancy they know, or "Mother Willow."

Compost by Dianne Araral meditates on what it means to be human — to hold together a body of carbon, to grieve and ache, to exist as yet another component of the natural world. They contemplate unity with the environment as we look towards our inevitable return to the earth.

Dianne Araral reflects on the 2022 North Luzon, Philippines earthquake. They explore generational bonds, culture, and religion, and examine the human failures that exacerbate vulnerability and withhold adequate protection, transforming naturally occurring phenomena into tragic disasters.

Wounded Earth, by Namibian poet Kuhepa Tjondu, is a poetic protest against human activities that defile and destroy our planet. It highlights the interconnectedness of all things and the need to understand that by destroying the planet, we are destroying ourselves.

Party Teeth, by Maria Provenzano, explores the process of extracting from the earth and the implications this has for the environment and those who inhabit areas surrounding the extraction sites. Who gets to decide what can be taken from the earth? And at what cost?

Maria Provenzano's poem examines the extraction of minerals and gemstones. She explores the myth and meaning we impose upon these stones to shed light on the inherent tension between the wonder and magic of beholding ancient creations and the violence involved in getting to touch them.

Rich Russell’s poem somberly reflects on the state of our planet — from the alarming impacts of rising atmospheric and ocean temperatures to the dangerous air quality caused by the Canada and U.S. East Coast wildfires. He explores the idea of an "everyday apocalypse", a world that is both familiar and perilous, and how we are expected to uphold “normalcy” under these grueling conditions.

In this piece, Camilla Capasso explores the concept of ‘plant blindness’ — our inability to notice plants and the role they play in our lives — as the symptom of our growing disconnectedness from nature. Worsened by urbanization, our tendency to overlook the importance of plants has significant consequences for the planet, hindering conservation efforts and impacting our food systems. Camilla writes that while the phenomenon is common, it is not irreversible. By engaging in cultural practices and fostering knowledge through education, we can reestablish our connection with nature and gain a deeper appreciation for plants’ vital presence.

An ode to the Maldives, a rich and abundant tropical oasis nestled in the Indian Ocean, which is vulnerable to the rising impacts of climate change and other threatening environmental challenges. Aishath Laisha wrote this powerful poem to amplify her voice in this fight against the climate crisis because a collective call to action is needed. Amidst these periling times, we must cooperate as humankind to make ambitious actions to protect our tropical homes and secure a livable future. 

“The role of an artist is to make the revolution irresistible” — Toni Cade Bambara. In this piece, Kwolanne explores art and media as essential outlets to confront the climate crisis, express climate anxiety, and sustain the heart of the movement. She writes that while the current doomsday narratives about our climate future spread a powerful message, they aren’t effective to inspire action. Instead, we need more climate media and art that depicts a hopeful future, a vision of the earth worth fighting for.

Maldivian writer and illustrator, Ijunad Junaid, reflects on tourism and development in the Maldives, ancestral tales of spirits, and how the climate crisis is a symptom of our detachment from the natural environment.

Poem by Ayisha Siddiqa: “What if the future is soft and revolution is so kind that there is no end to us in sight. Whole cities breathe and bad luck is bested by a promise to the leave”

in this short story, ky recalls a story highlighting their fear of moths. yet, despite the terror of this colossal moth, many moth species around the world are disappearing at a rapid rate due to climate change impacts, specifically the temperature changes which are happening so rapidly that the species cannot adapt accordingly. they attempt to address, through this piece, that although the source of their fear of an insect may disappear as species decline, is that a better situation?