by Regina YC Garcia
Nolan Wells' tragic death joins a long list of Black youth whose untimely demises have raised urgent questions about justice and accountability. —MadameNoire, July 10, 2026
This tree smells oddly familiar
as worms peer up
from disturbed ground
This water sighs in sadness
as sealife swims unabated
and dark-bodies sink
This land heaves up old hurts
as mouths protest
“All is well!”
(the lies they tell)
Regina YC Garcia is an award winning poet, language artist, and professor from Greenville, NC. Her published work appears in NCLR, Fiyah Black Speculative Lit, Soflopojo, Amistad, Elevation Review, Charlotte Lit, and others. Her first chapbook The Firetalker's Daughter published by Finishing Line Press was released in March 2023, and her full-length book Whispers from the Multiverse published by Aquarius Press/ Willow Books was released in February 2025.
