By: renskstudio
Poetry, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Becoming Lake Erie REDUX

Digitizing Risograph Zines

  • Risograph print of a coal plant in neon orange and green, text says "BECOMING LAKE ERIE"
  • Risograph print of a heron flying over a river in the rain in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of a heron flying over a river in the rain in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of an industrial pipe in a wetland with birds landing on it in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of a pipeline in a wetland in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of a human and dog standing in front of a nuclear power plant in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of a nuclear power plant in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of an abandoned building and duck in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of an abandoned water filtration plant in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of lilies in neon orange and green
  • Risograph print of lily pads and a bridge in neon orange and green

I am born to wetlands
I was raised by herons
my feet sink into
shifting muck like
cattail roots anchor
the lowest low of the river
right before becoming a great lake

trash floats in freshwater veins
invisible nylon lines
tangle my tongue
my brain and organs
swim in mercury
fluid coal ash
radioactive runoff

in my hometown
ducks waddle with
lures pierced through
delicately webbed toes
setting sunlight dissolves
the crumbling hydro-electric dam
built by Michigan’s
most celebrated nazi

his legacy decomposes
in thick scum where
lilies will bloom again and
frogs sing at twilight

Read More Of My Poetry

This is a followup to the post Becoming Lake Erie, which was shared before A More-Than-Human Society vol 2: ROOTED was printed. After sewing many copies for Zinecinnati zine fest, I took the opportunity to digitize the volume for my Patreon subscribers to have access to a pdf version. I love the quality of the neon orange and agave green riso prints so I wanted to reshare here as well!

Buy Limited-Edition Zines
Subscribe for Zine Mailings and Digitized Pdfs on Patreon

This second volume is themed around place. My poem is an ode to the Downriver area of Detroit, Michigan. I am always in awe of beauty and resistance in a heavily polluted, industrialized ecosystem. Speaking of industry, Henry Ford is a celebrity name around Detroit; he was an anti-semite and nazi-sympathizer/collaborator who is referenced in this poem.

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