In the nearly three months that have gone by since we published SCREAMING CICADAS, efforts have escalated to stop the proposed 700-acre landfill expansion & trash transfer station that threatens the health of our communities, waterways and ecosystems in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. The proposed plan was set into motion without being disclosed to or approved by the public, and it would allow tons of trash to be imported from elsewhere via our railways and roadways – while an outside developer and his investors make millions exploiting our community and degrading our mountain lands. A major win on the part of our local community has been the creation of a brand-new nonprofit, Cumberland Clear. In support of Cumberland Clear, the Scribes have collected 37 poems by 23 poets on the topic of rivers, waterways, and healthy ecosystems. Our goals are: 1) to call attention to the continued community efforts to STOP the landfill project in its entirety, 2) to share information about how YOU can get involved in the movement, 3) to uplift creative voices & encourage folks of all interests and backgrounds to SPEAK OUT, and 4) to show just how important our beautiful forested lands & rivers are to us in the Big South Fork. 

The red-eyed cicadas of Brood XIV have emerged once again in our mountain home, after spending the past 17 years underground as nymphs, feeding on sap from tree roots. Now, they have evolved into their final form to live among us for a few weeks, and they are screaming loud! We asked our poets to make like a cicada and scream a poem into existence alongside our insect friends. The result is a passionate collection of poetry that explores the connections between love & longing, life & nature, bravery, beauty, and community. Before you read all the poem-screams, we have two calls to action, encouraging our readers to support members of our poetry community as they navigate local crises. You can stand with the residents of Scott County, TN as we work together to stop a 700-acre landfill expansion plan that was set into motion before being disclosed to or approved by local citizens. You can also help poet Brandon Thorpe’s family, as his mother recovers from losing her home and her leg in the tornadoes that struck London, KY just a few days ago. Thank you for reading, and thank you for your support of our poetry community here in our Appalachian hills!