MILKWEED PODS BURST

by Lavinia Kumar

This is how the journey begins—

milkweed pods pop and seeds fly high.

The seeds wait to grow until next spring

then blossom ready for Monarchs to dine.

 

Butterfly bushes and milkweeds bloom—

this is how the journey begins,

as Monarchs flit, and suck sweet sap.

Do Monarchs and milkweed have a chat?

 

Their hungry caterpillars grow and munch

rest as cozy coccoon, under a green coat.

This is how the journey begins—

silent Monarch on silent milkweed.

 

Then colorful Monarchs start a new reign

fly south in thousands, cluster on trees.

And milkweed pods pop to make seeds fly

and this is how threats may begin.

A Pennsylvania school board member said she received death threats this month after her Facebook post was misinterpreted as celebrating the death of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, according to news reports. The Sept. 10 Facebook post, created by Homer-Center School District board member Misty Hunt, was uploaded the same day Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University. In a separate post around 11:20 p.m., Hunt explained the caption of the misconstrued post was supposed to be paired with a video of milkweed seeds blowing in the wind, which she releases to help monarch butterfly populations. —PennLive, September 20, 2025

Lavinia Kumar’s latest book is Spirited American Women: Early Writers, Artists, & Activists—very short prose of near 100 remarkable women writers, poets, publishers, painters, artists, abolitionists, early suffragettes, and activists. 

THE GREAT AMERICAN AMISH POWER TRIP

by James Schwartz 

Now, some Amish across northern Ohio find themselves clashing with a new state law designed to reduce accidents and enhance traffic safety by requiring flashing yellow lights on Amish buggies and other animal-drawn vehicles. …officers have been issuing citations, and some Amish have been summonsed into courts across northern Ohio on minor misdemeanor charges punishable by a roughly $150 fine. In Ashland County, some Amish are citing their religious beliefs and have told a judge they don't plan to obey the law and that "paying a fine is not an option." —The Daily Record, November 18, 2022

Memories of Monarch butterflies amid spring songs, clover flowers behind the old weatherbeaten shed, the Gregorian-esque voices in praise, the harmonies to heaven, the crisp white shirts, stark black pants & dresses, descendants of martyred interpretations, heretics of our own making, motherless rebels inter-bred in a defiant democracy. We will not guard the Holy Father. We hustle our humble wares amid warfare, bloody handed Bishops playing God, #AmishTikTok survivors. The sinful government wants to lower the body count. Ohio Bishops flex, above the law, statistics be damned, warning signs on dark roads & lost harmonies to the Lord. 

James Schwartz is a poet & author of various poetry collections including The Literary Party: Growing Up Gay and Amish in America (Kindle, 2011), Punatic (Writing Knights Press, 2019) & most recently Motor City Mix, Sunset in Rome (Alien Buddha Press, 2022). He resides in Detroit, Michigan.