The Barren Pine Barrens

Crossing the Stretch From Amagansett to Montauk Through the dead Pine Barrens The trees killed by pine beetles Almost all of them Sap sucked dry by the pest Save for those saved from the blight__ Pockets of pine Surrounded dead pines Fallen staggering dry and gray Awaiting a flame to burn them all But not today July 3 2026 Maybe some day Maybe the 4th of July Montauk is safe No pines in the marshes No pines in the Hither Hills No pines in Montauk Only before the Stretch The Stretch is the only route Out of Montauk Other than the sea And not all of us possess a boat We ain't going anywhere, but here __