they pave the world
a harder place
to fall,
hoping it’s impossible
for the likes
of us
to rise;
we’re done heeding
their slurs for
weeds.
no one tends
ugly fighters
for their bouquets,
yet we persist –
crack
ing
apart
concrete
to reclaim our
birthright spaces.
Cover photo credit: Polly Pullar
Hayli McClain
Hayli McClain grew up wearing flowers in her hair and saving worms off the pavement. Now she’s a writer and freelance editor interested in botanical monoprinting, environmental fantasy, and hoarding houseplants. The 6th-grade teacher who let Hayli lecture her class about recycling for Earth Day is probably not surprised.