The Future Fire: 2026.76 fiction nature

[Issue 2026.76]

“In Our Nature”, Colleen Anderson

In the beginning—
there was no beginning
not for flowers, trees, glacial rivers
evolving with the planet’s cycles
swimming through acid erosion

Nature rebounded
bursting abundance
environmental champions thrilled—
the earth reflowed, would thrive
pollution’s agents would not win

Trees canopied the sky
kudzu threaded streets
every rooftop wigged in moss
spongy mulch accepted footsteps
lichen licked our tender flesh

Nature birthed
      barked beings
      fungal friends
      dryad denizens

This symbiosis, we accepted
dreamed new Edens
repenting past transgressions
living together—harmony

Nature had no interest
in trying again
it feeds on all our flesh
an architecture of bones

[Issue 2026.76]

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