Cobalt Issue 23 - Evergreen

EVER
GREEN
Featuring
AColaborationwithGLOBUS
anEvergreentoreplacethat
Evergreen
AdamCurtisReview

Contents
Evergreen
ManpreetKaur
GreenGreen
Caliope
ABlessing,ACurse
KleidiLikola
TheGa
TheGarden
ChristopherTang
TheIvy
LucyCarter
Adam CurtisReview
HalConte
Evergreen
ThaïsFi
ThaïsFitzgerald
Evergeen
HolyMayne
EvergreenArt
GLOBUScolaboration
DailyGreens,DailyBlues
MariaSedykh
Forever
KeithMulopo
How toHaveaTruly
EvergreenChristmasTree
MinaMi
MinaMitchel-Hardy
AnEvergreentoreplacethat
Evergreen
MohammedSultan
So.How canweConnect
MolySmith
EvergreenBooks
Sej
SejPatel
OdetotheWaterLilyPond
LaurenShlomovich
JourneyUndertheFleeting
Moon
HelenaKnack
3
4
5
6
9
10
12
12
13
14
18
19
20
22
23
24
26
26
27
President’sLeter
ForourEvergreenissueweaskedyoualtotakethisconceptandmakeityourownthrough
lookingatnature,timeandalthingsin-between.EvergreenisintheChristmaspine,in
thingseternalandeveninsimpledailyroutinesamongmanyotherthings.From reviewsto
poems,from arttophotographythisissuehasital,soweinviteyoutoenjoyitpartialyor
alatonce.JumptothemiddletocheckoutthesubmissionbyGLOBUS,Warwickstudent
sustainabilityjournal,andaltheirexcelentsuggestionsofEvergreenthemeinvarious
mediatoexplore.
Maria

EVERGREN
Iam earth
andsoareyou
thelandwewalkon
aswetakebabystepstowardssuccess
thelandwetouch
whenwefal
Wearethewind
Oursongsmixwithherrhythms
Wedanceintheraintogether
amongthetrees
Wearethetrees
andthetwigs
Everyessenceofnatureiswithinus
Weareconnectedtotheowlshooting
thenightingales
thepolarbearsfaraway
whentheyweepforachildlosttohunger,
insideustoo,somethingcracks
Natureistheoccultedsoul
bringingusal— together
lifeforeverflowingandsinkingintoeachother
bustlinginnature’ssink
Wewilnotlast
butwewilnevergo
Naturewilforeverkeep
ouressenceinthesoil.
weliveinthekoalas
fearfuloffire
hurtbytheblaze
andhumanity’srace
tothegrave.
Ourbreathsinthewind
dreamsinthespring
Livingbeingscomeandgo
onourbeautifulblueplanet
butlifeisevergreen
andmayitforeverbeso.
MANPRETKAUR
3

Theylovedtheself:
Thepartofthem thattheyheld.
Theysat,sharingbreath,sharingtime.
Thisspacewastheirs;
Nowempty,despaired,
Desiringthegrasclimbitssides.
Theyleftonajourney,
Dreamsstayinginplace.
Throughfields,farfrom theirhome.
Pastgates,theymadeway
Thenheardthem sing:"hey,
Theysaythewindcariesmeon".
Theirvoiceflungitself
Betweenbodiessurounding;
Loudfrom thesky,downitfel.
Ondeafears,satsongs
un-astoundingandlong.
Theysearchedforthemselvesintheknels.
Besidespines,andmos,
andoaks,andleaves,
Whattheywantedlaycalm,atrest,atease.
Theyreachedup,forthehand.
Letmehelpyou:asound.
Theylookedandfelforthem then
Inapuddle,
onthefloor:
Thegreenestgreenofthem al.
Narcisuscouldenvyonlythemselves;
Inthehardwarestoreaisle,
theycried,astheyfelt.
Green,Green
Caliope
4

ACURSE.
ABLESING,
Theladyinthefigmentofherimaginationtiptoed
elegantlyoverthecrackedcobblestoneoftheGrecian
streets.Shewasabeautybeyondimagination,with
fairlipsassoftasarosepetalstouch.Sunkised;her
brighteyescreasedwiththeupturnofhersmile.She
worerose-tintedglasesforshehadnoreasonto
resentothers.Pure.Untouched.Naïve.
Butsheisnomore.Arealityshateredintoamilion
pieces.Aghostofthepast.
Thewomaninthecrackedmirorsmiledinawaythat
didnotresembletheladyinhermemories.Herteeth
weresharp,herstainedredlipsleftbloodytrailsonthe
marblefacesofhervictims.Thefabricofherdark
greenrobesstretchedformiles,glidingoverthefloor
asiftheyhadalifeoftheirown.Herhairhisedinthe
crackofsunlightthatshonethroughthecaveshe
learnttocalhome.Shesatonherthroneofstone,her
palehandcaresingthemovingserpentswholightly
kisedhercheeks.
Inalanguagebeyondcomprehension,theyspokein
tonguesastheyscaledherneckandshoulders.Light
whispersechoedthroughouthercoldthroneroom.
Shewasalone,thoughneverlonely.Herreptilian
eyesdartedfrom facetofaceofherloyalsubjects,
eachwearingexpresionsofblis.Sheletthosewho
paintedfearontheirfacecrumblewithaslightpush
ontotheconcretefloor.Itwasbeterthisway,she
determined.
Impure.Touched.Yetsheremainednaïve.
Nolongercouldwanderingeyesgrazeherskin,for
thosethatdaredlookawaitedafateworsethandeath.
Shecouldprotectherself.Ablesingoracurse?
Therewasnouseinpondering,shedecided.Forshe
wasevergreen.Evergreen.
5
KLEIDILIKOLA

6

7

8

LucyCarter
Secretary
9

10

11

EVERGREEN
ThaïsFitzgerald
Editor
12

Evergreen
Thosemomentswehadarepainted
evergreen
Inmymind,
Holdingthem closeasyour
bodywithers,
mineimmortalised
instone
I’m scaredyou’l
breakatmytouch
Freagmentsdrifting
inthewind.
Nevertobeseenagain
13
HolyMayne

Acolaborationwith
EVERGR
Brilianteen
Releasedin2014onHeartsrevolution’ssecondalbum‘RideorDie’,Brilianteenisasongaboutthedangers
ofconsumerism,andhowdamagingasocietythatvaluesmaterialposesionsoveralelsecanbeforits
people.Brilianteenisacritiqueofahighlysuperficialworldwhere“celebrityobsesion”and“thehunttofindand
poses[.]perfection”eventualy“kilsyourheartanditkilsyourwealth”.Inadditiontothis
pervasiveconsumerist“sicknes”,vocalistLeylaSafaiexplainsthat“everybodyseemstowanttotalkchange”but
“theleswedo,themoreitstaysthesame”–weknowtheworldisnotinagoodplaceandwewantthings
tochange,butnoonewantstotakeontheresponsibility,whichultimatelycreatesaworldofpostponedactionand
shirkedresponsibility.Thefundamentalmesageofthesongisthatthereishopeforabeterworld,butwemust
openoureyestoconsumerismandcoruption,andtakeresponsibilityforourhome.Thesongissoinspiring
becausewhileit’sangryanddisilusioned,it’sesentialyabouthope.WhenSafaibeltsthat“theworldisin
danger,butI’mheretosaveyou”she’snotsayingthatsheoranyotherpersoncansingle-handedlysavethe
world,butratherthatwecansaveeachotherandourselvesbytryingtohelppeopleseethetruth.Thesongisa
chalengetobeawareof,andnolongerbecomplicitin,theexploitationanddestructionthatpermeatesmuchof
modernsociety.Inthisway,it’sacaltorevolution.
Avatar
Mostlikelyknowntoal,the2009blockbustersci-fifilmAvatartakesustoanot-so-distantfuturewherehumanity
managedtodestroynearlyalofEarth’snaturalenvironment.TakingplaceonPandora,aplanetofpristinenatural
richnes,wefolowtheprotagonistJakeonhisjourneyofdiscovery,love,andmostimportantlya
greatenvironmentalistmisionofprotectingthenatureofPandorainthefaceofbrutalhumanity.
Aged11,IsawAvatarinthecinemawithmyfamilyandfriends.Upuntilthen,Ihadlitlecareforenvironmental
topics.But,asIfelinlovewiththeperfectly-craftedworldofPandoraanditsculture,Iendedupcryingduring
theHometreedestructionscene–whichhappenstomeveryrarely.Ithensawthemovieinthecinemaafewmore
timesandformonthsIhaddreamedanddaydreamedofitsworld,whichconsequentlymademefalinlovewithour
worldtoo,andhadchangedmeforever.
WithAvatarplantingtheseedsofmyinterestinenvironmentalisues,IwentontostartaCzechbranchofan
internationalenvironmentalorganisationPlant-for-the-PlanetwhenIwas14.Empoweringchildrenandyouthto
actontheclimatecrisisandsupportingforestrestorationprojectsintheGlobalSouth,Iwentfrombeinga
volunteerfortheNGOtofoundinganoficialentitythatInowmanageasapart-timer.Academicaly,Iamcertain
thatIwouldnotchoosetostudyGlobalSustainableDevelopmentatWarwick,ifithadnotbeenforAvatar.
14

GLOBUS
EENART
TheBrook
Writenin1886,thebrookisabaladwhichpersonifiesabrookasitjourneysthroughthecountrysidetojoinup
withariver.Thepoetbeautifulybalancesdarkerthemesofdeathwiththoseofthebeautyofnature,
Ifirstreadthispoeminschool,forEnglishclas.Thismeanthatwewererequiredtoreaditmultipletimesover
thecourseofafewweeks,butwhatsurprisedmewashowthepoembecameincreasinglypoignantthemoreIread
it.Icouldvisualisethe“netedsunbeams”dancingasthebrookflows,couldhearit“murmurundermoon
andstars”,alevokingmemoriesofmyfavouritepartsofnature.
Oneofthemainthemesofthepoemisthetranciencyofhumankind.Thebrooksays“Formenmaycomeand
menmaygo,butIgoonforever”.Thislineisrepeatedfourtimesthroughoutthepoem,actingasareminderthat
wearebutguestsonthisplanet.BeingmindfulofourimpermanenceissomethingIfindtrulyhumbling;
nature,ontheotherhand,lastsforeverandinthisway,thepoeminspiresmetotreattheearthwiththerespectit
deserves.
ColoursoftheWind
Everyone’sfavouritesongfromthe1995DisneyfilmPocahontas,ColoursoftheWindissungbyPocahontas
toJohnSmith,tocriticisehisandtheothersetlers’barbariccolonialistpractices.Inthisodetonature,
Pocahontascontrastsindigenouspopulations’closeknit,two-wayrelationshiptonaturewiththesetlers’
one-way,extractiveuseofnaturalresourcesandpeople.WhilstIbelievethereismuchtocriticizeaboutthefilm
asawhole,andtheuseofcolonialmasacresforentertainment,thesongColoursoftheWindiscertainlyasource
ofinspirationtopreserveandprotectthenaturalworld.
Likemanyofus,IfirstlistenedtothissongwhenwatchingPocahontasasachild.However,itwasn’tuntilmany
yearslater,intheDisneymusicobsesionstageofmylife(justme?),thatIpaidmoreatentiontoitsmeaning.It
leftalastingimpresiononme,remindingmeofhowintertwinedsomepeoplewereandforsome,stilare,to
nature.Theanimation,albeitalitledatedcomparedtowhatDisneyproducesnow,mesmerisedme.Thesparkly
leavesblowingineverydirectionwhichfolowPocahontasaroundmakeforamagicalseting,andrealy
reinforcethefeelingofhavinganexceptional,spiritualconnectiontonature.
Thissonginspiresmetolettherightvoicesbeheard.Throughoutthesong,PocahontasshowsJohn,
andsimultaneously,theviewers,thepreciousrelationshiphercommunityentertainswithnature.Shereframesthe
narativeofindigenouspopulationsas“savages”toprovethatactualy,so-caledsavagesaremoregenerous,kind
andknowledgeablethantheWest.Thissongalsoinspiresmetomendandnurturemyownrelationshipwith
nature:tonoticethesmalthingsuroundingme,andtakecareofourplanet’snaturalwonders,howeverbigor
smal.InPocahontas’words,“youcanowntheearthandstilalyouownisearth”untilyoulearntovalue
thenaturalenvironmentforwhatitisintrinsicaly,andnotonlywhatyoucanmakeofit.
15

Acolaborationwith
OurPlanet
EVERGR
OurPlanetisadocuseriesnaratedbyDavidAtenboroughwhichshowcasesEarth’snaturalbeauty.Itshowcases
theamazinglandscapesandspecieswhichinhabitthisworld,frompolarbearsintheArctictodeep-sea
organisms.Whilstshowingofmagnificentscenes,OurPlanetmakestheviewerveryawareofthedamageweas
humansaredoingtotheseecosystems.
ThefirsttimeIsawOurPlanetIwasbothamazedandshocked.ItwasbreathtakingtoseepartsoftheEarthI
neverdreamedofseeing,becausewhenamIeverrealygoingtogettheopportunitytogointothedeep-seaor
rainforest.Butseeingthedamagewe’redoingupsetme,andstilrealyupsetsmewheneverIwatchtheshow.
AttheendofeveryepisodeofOurPlanetweareremindedofthedamageweashumansaredoingtothe
planet.But,thereisalwaysamesageofhopeandhowtogetinvolvedinmakingameaningfulchange.Thefightis
notoveryet,wearestilabletomakeadiference.Ifindthishopeincrediblyinspiring.WithouthopeIwouldnot
bestudyingGlobalSustainableDevelopment,becausewhatwouldbethepoint?Iwanttofighttosavethe
beautifulspeciesandlandscapesonEarth,andOurPlanethasinspiredmetodothat.
PrincesMononoke
DirectedbyHayaoMiyazakiandproducedbystudioGhibli,PrincesMononokemadeitswaytoviewersinJapanin1997
beforeshortlyspreadingtotherestoftheworldintheearly2000s.Sincethenithasenjoyedrelativepopularityacrosthe
globe.PrincesMononokeisbestdescribedasanepichistoricalfantasyfilmandissetintheMuromachiperiodof
Japan.Plainly,asbefitingthefantasystyleofthefilm,thetalefolowsAshitaka,ayoungEmishiprince,andhisinvolvement
inadarkclashbetweentheGodsofaforestandhumanswhoconsumethisforest’sresources.Asthemarchoftheiron
agethreatenstoupsettherelativeharmonyofthenaturalworld.
Likemostduringthesummerlockdownof2019-2020IspentagreatdealoftimeonaNetflixbinge.StudioGhiblifilmshad
recentlybeengivenaNetflixreleaseandIcruisedmywaythroughtheavailablestudioGhiblifilms.IsavedPrinces
Mononokeforlast.Iwasimmediatelycaptivatedbytheartofthefilm,beingintricate,handdrawnandvisualyengrosing.I
wouldlaterdiscoverthataround10%ofthefilmwascreatedwithcomputeranimation,simplyatestamenttothehard
workandpasionthatmusthavebeenpouredintothefilmbythestudio.Thesoundtrackwascomposedandperformedby
JoeHisaishiandfurtherbolsteredthemysticalnatureofthefantasysetingthefilmlendsitselfto.Inparticularthetrack“the
LegendofAshitaka”isafondfavourite.ThestorygrippedmelikeariptideandIintentlyconcentratedontheartunfolding
beforeme.Thestoryitselffeaturesseveralprominentthemessuchasthatoftheenvironment,sexuality,disability
andduality.Eachoftheseentwinedtodeliveragrippingperformancethatstiredmyemotions.Thefilmstayedwithme,for
onceIfoundmyselfthinkingaboutthefilminamoreseriousmanner,IthoughtofthequestionsraisedandIthoughtdeeply
ofmyownanswersforthem.
AsImentionedearlierthefilmraisedquestionsthatIhadatemptedtoanswer,someofthesewere:Howfarsomeonewas
wilingtodamagetheenvironmentinordertoprovideforthosetheycareabout?Whereexactlydoweplacethebalancein
themoralyambiguousconflictbetweenhumankind’sgrowthandnature’sneedforpreservation?Atthetimeitseemedto
methatthereisalwaysgoingtobesomesemblanceofgiveandtakebetweenmanandnature.However,Ididnot
particularlylikemyanswerstoquestionsPrincesMononokeraised,especialyhowthreadbareminewere.Iwasn’tsatisfied
soIpushedmyselftoexplorethethemesraised,readingaboutthetopicshighlighted,discusingideaswithmymore
learnedfriendsandtounderstand.ItookpartinWarwicksClimateNegotiatingConferenceandbecameacorespondent
forGLOBUS,whilesearchingforacareerthatwouldenablemetoworkonenvironmentalmaters.Ibelievethatmyinterest
andpursuanceofsustainabilityandenvironmentalismwereinpartsiredbyafilm,aworkofartwhichledmetorealisethatI
couldlearnmore,couldgrowmoreandcoulddomore.
16

GLOBUS
EENART
Wal-E
AclasicI’msurewealknowandlove,Wal-Etelsthestoryofarobotbythesamenamelivinginthe
rubbish-filedwastesofanabandonedEarth.Asmuchasthismovieisawarningfortheconsequencesof
climatechangeandexcesconsumption,thefilmportraysasocietydriventostagnancythroughcomplacencyand
theimpactthiswouldhave.Withthehelpofthesleek,JonnyIvedesigned,Eve,andacoupleofaware
humans,Wal-Eisabletosethumanityoncoursetoagreenerfuture.
IfirstwitnesedthemasterpiecethatisWal-E whenIreceivedthemovieasaDVDsomewherearoundmytenth
birthday.Ispentfartoomuchtimewatchingthebonuscontentandhummingthefunlitlejingleoftheir
corporateoverlordsuntilIclockedontotheenvironmentalmesage,andI’vebeenenamouredeversince.
Ithinkthisfilminspiresmesomuchasitshowsthatthesmalestindividualcanmakeapositivechange,even
inthefaceofgreatadversity.Thenot-so-nuancedpresenceofBnLasthemegacorporationspecialising
ineverythingfromfrozenyoghurttoworldgovernmentsservesasaveselforcritiquesofconsumerismand
corporatism,withoutplacingundeservedblameonthepeoplelivingunderneaththem.Withoutcomingoftoo
preachy,IthinkWal-Einspiresthroughshowingwhattheworldmayturnintowithoutdrasticchangeaswelas
placinganemphasisontheimportanceofrelationshipsformeaningfulfulfilment.AlsoIjustlovethehuge
spaceshipand,whenthetimecomes,Iwilbethefirstinlineforthosehoverchairs.
Adrift
‘Adrift’isafilminspiredbythetruestoryofthesailorTamiOldhamwhostayedadriftonashipwreckfor41days
afterherboatgotcaughtinHuricaneRaymond.ThestoryiscenteredaroundthecharacterofTamiandher
boyfriendRichardSharpastheyatempttoconnectthecityofPapeete(FrenchPolynesia)toSanDiego(United
States)beforegetingcaughtinoneofthestrongeststormsthateveroccuredinthepacificOceanleadingtothe
destructionoftheirboat.Tamithenhastosurvivealonefor41daysontheboatwhiletakingcareofaninjured
Richardwhilesheatemptstogainlanddespitehavingnothinglefttosurvive.
IfirstwatchedthefilmAdriftwhenitcameoutatthecinemain2018.Apartfrommyfriendandme,thescreening
roomwascompletelyemptywhich,combinedwiththesoundwavescomingfromtheloudspeakers,realy
reinforcedthisfeelingofbeingsosmalandpowerlesagainstnature.
Bywatching‘Adrift’,wearepresentedwiththetwosidesofnature.First,theidyliconewhichisfolowedbyits
more‘violent’side.Thisactsasagoodreminderofhowpowerfulanddangerouscanbeandhow,as
humanbeings,weareinsignificantandsmalcomparedtoit.Ithinkthiscomparison,betweennatureandus,is
usefulasitalowsustoquestionthe‘relative’impresionofpowerwethinkwehaveonnature,especialyinthe
contextoftheover-exploitationofnatureanditsresources.Especialynow,asnaturaldisastersduetoclimate
changecontinuetoincreaseexponentialy,thisfilmactsasawarningofwhatcanhappenifwecontinuewiththese
unsustainablepractisesandurgesustorecognisethetruepowerofnature.
17

DailyGreens,
DailyBlues
MariaSedykh
President
Greenavocadoontoast
BecauseI’m healthyandpretentious,
TeasoblackthatIseetimeand
Greenenviesthatenergiselikecofee.
GreenlightfortasksthatImustdo,
Blacklistofhabitstogetridof,
Reddeadlinesonmycalendarsand
Bluewintermelancholiescreepingin.
Greenappleciderorthebrownofbeer,
Mybestandonlyoneblueclub-top,
Kaleidoscopeoffriendlyfacesand
Cacophonyofsounds–rawmelody.
Green-eyedkissesinthestrobelights,
Gobacktomybluehomestraightafter,
Crawlundermylightgreenduvetsand
Seeskin-colouredlonelydreams
andwakeuptorepeat
18

Forever
KeithMulopo
Leavingatrailoffire,
Mystepsshaketheinfernalworldbelow.
Indripping,drearylight,
Vehiclesandstrangersalikeare
Motoringtotheirdesireddestinations.
Venturingtopartsuntrodden,
Idiscoveratidy,windingpath:
Onethat’ssureofitsdirection,
Yetseeslitlerewardinswiftdisclosure.
Footstepsbecomeintriguedyetuncertain,
Negotiatingdipsandrises,
Woodstepsandgravelysurfaces.
Ienteraworldofcommunalstilnes.
Thehonest,redcouncilhomeslaycalm,
Watchingoverthegated
Lilyturfs,Speedwels,andWeeds.
Theplantsproudlystandinthecrateredground:
Unmovedbytheroarsofrushed,nearbycars.
UnmovedbythepoignantAutumndrizzle.
Mayevenremainunmovediftheir
Brickedguardianswereblownaway.
Thisstoicism liftsmyanguish,
Justforwishtofaintlyslideinitsplace-
Iseekanyopeningtojointhepeace,
ButitseemsI’m undeserving:
TheringofDouglasFircansense
Suchlouddesperation.
ForeverIcouldlingerherespectating
Timeatitsmostcontent.
ForeverIcouldsummonschemestrying
Tomimicsuchpoise.
Forever,itseems,Tranquilityis
Just
outofreach.
19

HOWTO
HAVEA
TRULY
EVERGEN
CHRISTMAS
TRE?
MinaMitchel-Hardy
ProductionManager
20

21
Wealhavewintertimetraditionsthatmakeus
feelathomeduringtheholidays,cooking
Christmasdinner,watchingcheesymovies,
snowbalfightinganddecoratingthetree.Butif
wealwanttohaveasnowywhiteChristmasin
thenorthernhemisphereeveragain,wemight
wanttothinkthroughhowgreenthoseChristmas
treesrealyare.
Evergreentreeshavebeenusedforwinter
Evergreentreeshavebeenusedforwinter
celebrationsforthousandsofyears,pines,
spruces,firs;there’sahistoryofthesetreesin
wintertimestretchingbacktoancientcivilisations
inEurope,AsiaandtheMiddleEast.Onthe
otherhand,decoratedtreesdidn’tbecome
popularuntilahundredyearsagowhenpeople
startedbringingsmalevergreentreesintotheir
housesoverwinteranddecoratingthem with
candlesandedibletreats.However,you’remuch
morelikelytoseeplastictreeswithmetalic
tinselandledlightsinpeople’shomesthese
days.
Butisthatrealysobad?
ArtificialTrees
RealTrees
Artificialtreesareoftenmadefrom
Artificialtreesareoftenmadefrom
PVCplastic,theproductionofwhich
createshazardouswaste,airborne
polution,andcarbonemisions.
AccordingtoTheCarbonTrust,
around66% ofemisionscreatedby
artificialtreescomefrom theplastic
thattheyaremadefrom,while25%
originatesfrom themanufacturing
proces.Ifbuyingnew,youwould
needtore-useitforatleasttenyears
tokeeptheenvironmentalimpact
aslowasthatofarealtree.
However,ifyoualreadyhavean
artificialtreeorrescue,buyor
borowapre-ownedone,you
borowapre-ownedone,you
maybecausingtheleastharm
totheenvironment,savinga
realtreefrom beingchopped
downandnotcontributingto
thecreationofnewartificial
trees.
trees.
Atypical6-foot-talChristmastreetakes
aroundtenyearstogrowfuly,andduring
thistime,itabsorbsCO2from the
atmosphere,helpinglowercarbonemisions
intheatmosphere.However,choppingthis
treedownandputingitinyourlivingroom
stopsitfrom reachingitsfulpotentialand
continuingtoremoveCO2from the
atmosphere.Aswelasthis,Christmastree
farmstakeupcrucialagriculturalspacethat
couldbeusedtogrowcropsor
carbon-negativeplants.
Replantingyour
ChristmasTree
Howdoweofsetthis?Atthispoint,it
mightfeelasthoughtherearenooptions,
butluckilyyoudon’thavetohaveapileof
tinselandbaublesonthefloor.Oneofthe
mostsustainableoptionsisusingan
evergreenthatcanbereplantedandre-used
yearafteryear.Disposingofatreeby
compostingproducesCO2andmethane,
whereasreplantingandreusingatreeyear
afteryearcouldevenresultinnegative
emisions.Youcouldevengiveitapunny
name,‘firsure’,‘birch,please’or‘feeling
pine’.
Whateversortoftreeyoudecideto
decoratethisholidayseason,try
Whateversortoftreeyoudecideto
decoratethisholidayseason,try
andthinkabouthowitcanhelpus
keephavingawhiteChristmasfor
aslongaswe’vegot.

ANEVERGRENTOREPLACETHAT
Thatdarkgreenleafthatneverwithers
Irunmyfingersthroughthisnamelesbush
It’sthemosquitos’home,withbelyfulofblood.
Itisautumnnow,afloodoffireandoldage.
Butthemelodramaofdeathiscoming
Withtheslantingsun,colderairs.
Stripawaythelightsandthered
Stripawaythelightsandthered
Whatisleft?Dead,greyandwet
Desolateemptyhearts
Piningforliestomakethem forget
Thoseevergreenleavesoflonelines.
Inthespringitwascaterpilarsthere
Theleaveshereseemedbrighter
Theleaveshereseemedbrighter
It’sonlyagoldenseedofsilk
Asipofwarm milkandhoney
Athinthreadtautinmyskin
Aspringsintobloom insummer
Butonlyacaterpilar,wethought
Withdesolateemptyhearts
Piningforliestomakeusforget
Piningforliestomakeusforget
Thoseevergreenleavesoflonelines.
Thesunofsummerranthroughabuterfly
Flyingbythosebeautifulleaves-
Butit’stoobeautifuldon’tyouthink
It’sasea,itinvitesmetosinkinit
Drownanddie,eatmewhole,consumeme.
Drownanddie,eatmewhole,consumeme.
Likestiringhoneyinthesun
Withapupilinthemiddletosee.
Fingersandnails,hairsundone.
Visionspinning,giddyanddumb.
Butthisskinwilwrinkle,
Thisbuterflywildieinaday.
Thebushempty.Grasunderdwy.
Thebushempty.Grasunderdwy.
ThereIlay,repeating“Whatnow?”
Imisedmydesolateemptyheart
Thatpinedfortheselies,toforget
Thoseevergreenleavesoflonelines.
Noweverthingisdead,
Justthoseevergreenleavesremain
Clearinthewinterair.
Mydesolateemptyheartlivesthere.
Itpinesforlies,toforget
Theevergreenleavesoflonelines
Theevergreenleavesoflonelines
Butnow,nocaterpilarsarecrawling
Nobuterfliestodrownin
Nomosquitostohauntme
Nobloodlefttosuck,
NowIcanseetheleaves
Theirdarkveinsrunninginrivers
Onlyanevergreencouldreplacethisevergreen.
Onlyanevergreencouldreplacethisevergreen.
So,Iwillookintomyemptyheart
Iwilfindsomeemptinestogivetoyou.
AndIwilexpectnoemptinesinreturn.
Andwe’lbecontent
Withourdesolateemptyhearts,
Withthoseevergreenleavesoflonelines.
Inwintereverythingiseternal
Thetreeshavedied
Toremindmeofmydeath
Wheremyheartcanalwaysbeempty
Andinthatdelightfulsoil
Iwilknowthetruth
Iwilknowthetruth
There,indeath,inwinter
Theevergreendesolateemptyhearts
Wilnolongerpine.
Finalyathome,
Theywilhaveforgoten
Thoseevergreenleavesoflonelines.
Sub-Editor
MuhammedSultan
EVERGREN.
22

Feetfusedtothefloor
concentrateonbecoming.
No .onunbecomingon
peelingbackyourlayers
until,inthe
nothingness,youare
everything.Thatishow to
connect.Boundary
dissolution.
Getnaked!Nosilyshoes
–coldfeetcan’tkil,can
they?Ossifyyourflesh
–bebrilelikebark.Toss
thattampon.
A meatystarter
Plumpandsaltyglobuled
pearls
Sitonmaedleaves
Thattwist,coiltotastethe
breeze
Withchewytonguesof
Withchewytonguesof
knoingrope.
Now forthemainevent
Haloofleavessingedand
crisped
Byautumn’soven.
Butsucculentcentres
remain
Thoughparasiticpower.
Thoughparasiticpower.
Pudding;acakeysponge
Toppedwithcreamy
flaenedleaves.
Softspoonableearth
Custardypools
interspersed
Bytherichdarkcrumbs.
Bytherichdarkcrumbs.
(red)
green
Ora(green)nge
Br(yel)o(low)wn
Bleedout!Letthefluids
mingle.Thrashaboutin
themuduntilyoucan
tastethetouchfeelthe
soundhearthecoloursee
theflavour.Thecolour’s
whatcounts.Tobeisto
see–solook.no.feast!
see–solook.no.feast!
23

24

25

OdetotwlypondInGiverny,thewaterliliesbloom
Itisapaintingofoilsbroughttolife
LaurenShlomovich
Wherealiscalm.Breatheinthesoftperfume
Treasurer
Asstringsofleavescascadeindappledlight
Whatliesbeneathanidylicfaçade?
Wegazebutrarelysethewater’sedge
Poison-tippedtheyliebelowthepromenade
Wherewarblersnestandflitamongthesedge
Theluminouspool;ablackopalshet
Wherefretsandwoessinkdepwithin
Spareamomentforasilentretreat
Forthewiselilyawaitswhathasben
Apityifalthatremainsshalbe
Immortalisedoncanvas,evergren
26

27

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