Deep-soil water not enough
for Sierra Nevada conifers with
thirst to rising
life sprung from aquifers,
no aquitard stopping
extraction of too much water
evapotranspiration
(leaves cooling themselves)
from heat and draught overbearing
to a drop in water table,
less water reaching streams
signaling rivers depleting.
Poem by Lynne Goldsmith
Lynne’s poetry has been published in All-Creatures.org, Interalia Magazine, Journal for Critical Animal Studies, Not Very Quiet, Plants & Poetry Journal, Red Planet Magazine, Spillway, The Environmental Magazine, Thimble Literary Magazine, and elsewhere. Her first book, Secondary Cicatrices, won the 2018 Halcyon Poetry Prize and was a 2019 Finalist in the American Book Fest Awards, a 2020 Human Relations Indie Book Award Gold Winner, a 2020 International Book Award Finalist, a 2021 Book Excellence Award Finalist, and a 2021 Independent Press Distinguished Favorite Award.