friendly state

d. ellis phelps

February 2, 2025

we hope the power 

will stay on—that 

there will be no snow

some of us hope

to see blue in power

but no 

no matter 

how red things get

no matter 

we power on:

drive by the dry riverbed

—pray for rain

dig up invasives

—opt for natives

pre-cycle plastics

—drink from glasses

~

in this state that’s said to be friendly

we’ve built a wall     called neighbors enemies

we’re rather stuck on our civil war heroes

one neighbor still calls some of us negros

~

when the sandhills and wax wings 

arrive every spring

when the dandelions bloom

when the cardinal sings

when the neighbor shares a plate of pasta 

when the kid next door does good    

when the wren returns to her nest by the window

—yellow beaks of a brood reaching

i am assured      

without doubt 

without reason

d. ellis phelps’ work has appeared widely online and in print. She is the author of four poetry collections and one novel and the editor of Moon Shadow Sanctuary Press (MSSP) and of the digital journal fws:  international journal of literature & art where she publishes the work of others.