The headlines started appearing in late summer. “Earth had its hottest August in 175-year record,” wrote the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Now, in November, there’s a regular pile of them: “NASA finds summer 2024 hottest to date” (NASA), “2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record” (the World Meteorological Organization), “This year set to be first to breach 1.5C global warming limit” (the BBC).
America, I hear, as in American, American dream. / America—and a portion of the continent vanishes. / America: the name slips out my mouth / like a sticky cherry pit. America, I say again. . . .
