At the Eco-conference, When Asked Where I Live

. . . disenfranchised from the land.
— Sharman Russell

The trees are strangers there,
immigrants whose roots
feel for a place to belong to.
The grass is thirst

turning green; the highways
expressions of discontent
following the light
to each horizon; the malls,

offices and sports arenas all
are trespassing. But we
arrived curious to know
the future and found it

before it happened: a city
as disenfranchised from the land
as we are from the countries
left behind.

David Chorlton has lived in Phoenix since 1978. He grew up in England with watching soccer as a major part of life although he has managed to move on to other interests since then, including reading and writing poetry. Read other articles by David.