Uncancelled

Do remember they can’t cancel the spring.

David Hockney

Despite the constant sirens,

despite the smoke

of bombardments lingering

in the empty streets,

despite townspeople

who look like roaches

behind full-face gas masks

and oxygen tanks

strapped on their backs,

despite the caramel smell

of burnt books

drifting in the grey air,

despite water

measured in drops,

despite the giant flags

hanging down and down

the ruined skyscrapers,

despite the blinding medals

of old generals,

and despite the cold blood

of the government:

a pomegranate bud

cracks open

like a crimson promise.

A bird egg breaks.

Young hands burn

to hold each other.

---

Özge Lena is an internationally published poet who appears in The London Magazine, Oxford Climate Society Blog, Mslexia, International Times, and in numerous magazines and anthologies across continents. She recently presented her poetic approach "Catapoetics: Poetry of the Catastrophe" at the International Conference on Poetry Studies, Birkbeck, University of London, following the publication of her catapoetry article in Modron Magazine, UK. Her poetry has received Pushcart Prize, Editor's Choice Award, The Best Spiritual Literature Award, and Best of the Net nominations and was shortlisted for the Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition, The Plough Poetry Prize, Ralph Angel Poetry Prize, and the Black Cat Poetry Press Nature Prize.

Instagram: @lenaozge Bluesky: @lenaozge.bsky.social Twitter/X: @lenaozge