The New Republic | Once by Lawrence Joseph AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. The article features a lyrical poem by Lawrence Joseph, dated May 21 2026, that weaves together vivid, dream‑like images—from smoke‑filled skies and wind‑blown alleys to a rusted Cadillac in milkweed, October snow over Lake Huron, and a lost young man weeping by railroad tracks in Carey, Ohio—while reflecting on themes of consciousness, labor, nature, and redemption. The piece closes by noting that Joseph’s most recent poetry collection is *A Certain Clarity* and invites readers to read more in the June 2026 issue of Magazine, Poetry. Read more: https://newrepublic.com/article/210092/ #LawrenceJoseph #Cadillac #LakeHuron #CareyOhio #poetry