Monica Claesson
“Western Interior Seaway”
Having spent the majority of my life in Nebraska, I’ve developed a long list of complaints about it—from its lack of mountains, to its lack of progressive politicians, and everything in between. For these reasons, I’ve always invested my creative energy toward writing about everywhere except the Midwest.
Recently, however, something shifted. Once I finally made concrete plans to move away, I realized it was time to work toward some sort of poetic reconciliation with Nebraska. At this realization, I suddenly began to find inspiration from my home state. As much as I’m loath to admit it, there are a lot of things I truly do appreciate about the flatlands. In particular, the city of Lincoln has a certain charm that even people who have spent only a short amount of time here can recognize.
When it comes to the Midwest, I find myself consistently drawn to writing about it through the lens of geology. While my use of geologic concepts varies from poem to poem, the root of the inspiration comes back to the same analogy: In the same way that earth’s slow, tedious processes have left a permanent and substantial impact on the landscape, my time spent in the seemingly bland state of Nebraska has laid the bedrock of my foundation.
In short, the Midwest has left its imprint on me in many ways, and “Western Interior Seaway” represents one of my attempts at acknowledging that.
Recently, however, something shifted. Once I finally made concrete plans to move away, I realized it was time to work toward some sort of poetic reconciliation with Nebraska. At this realization, I suddenly began to find inspiration from my home state. As much as I’m loath to admit it, there are a lot of things I truly do appreciate about the flatlands. In particular, the city of Lincoln has a certain charm that even people who have spent only a short amount of time here can recognize.
When it comes to the Midwest, I find myself consistently drawn to writing about it through the lens of geology. While my use of geologic concepts varies from poem to poem, the root of the inspiration comes back to the same analogy: In the same way that earth’s slow, tedious processes have left a permanent and substantial impact on the landscape, my time spent in the seemingly bland state of Nebraska has laid the bedrock of my foundation.
In short, the Midwest has left its imprint on me in many ways, and “Western Interior Seaway” represents one of my attempts at acknowledging that.