(l)ignite by Kate MacAlister

This immersive reading transports the listener to the climate justice protest in Lützerath, Germany, where over 35,000 people—including Greta Thunberg—gathered in an attempt to save the village from the unnecessary expansion of a lignite coal mine. The author was part of the protest movement for nearly two years, conducting writing workshops at the protest camp before the violent eviction.

Fitting seamlessly into the category of poetry as environmental action, this piece emerges from the frontlines of the fight to uphold the 1.5-degree limit. It stands as a poetic testimony to a pivotal moment in the struggle for the planet’s future.

The poem belongs to the collection Burn it All Down, then Kiss Me.

In Burn it All Down, Then Kiss Me, Kate MacAlister delivers a searing collection of poetry that is both a battle cry and a love letter. These verses, born from the frontlines of feminist protests and the peaceful resistance at Lützerath against coal mining devastation, resonate with the urgency of our times.

Fierce and radically tender, revolutionary and intimate, the poems confront themes of justice, identity, and survival with unflinching honesty. From the raw power of (l)ignite to the communal defiance of Take Care of Each Other to Be Dangerous Together, MacAlister’s words are a call to action and a balm for the weary soul.

This is not just a book of poetry—it’s a manifesto for change, a celebration of resilience, and a reminder that in the ashes of destruction, love and hope can bloom.

MacAlister's poetry weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of ritual magic and transformative flames. She defies traditional forms, using the melodic cadence of an arcane spell to captivate her readers. Themes of the female body, the interaction with the earth, and the power of connection are intertwined in her work.