Rising. Elizabeth Rush

Rising

photo © Michael Christopher Brown/Magnum Photos

Author photo by Stephanie Alvarez Ewens

19 20 21 22 23 5 4 3 2 1

978-1-57131-381-2

Milkweed Editions, an independent nonprofit publisher, gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from the Ballard Spahr Foundation; the Jerome Foundation; the McKnight Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Target Foundation; and other generous contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Also, this activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from Wells Fargo. For a full listing of Milkweed Editions supporters, please visit milkweed.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Rush, Elizabeth A., author.

Title: Rising : dispatches from the new American shore / Elizabeth Rush.

Description: First edition. | Minneapolis, Minnesota : Milkweed Editions, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017059870 (print) | LCCN 2018016302 (ebook) | ISBN 9781571319708 (ebook) | ISBN 9781571313676 (hardcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Coast changes--Climatic factors--United States. Coasts--Climatic factors--United States. | Sea level--Climatic factors--United States. | Rush, Elizabeth A.--Travel--United States.

Classification: LCC GB459.4 (ebook) | LCC GB459.4 .R86 2018 (print) | DDC 551.45/70973--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017059870

Milkweed Editions is committed to ecological stewardship. We strive to align our book production practices with this principle, and to reduce the impact of our operations in the environment. We are a member of the Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit coalition of publishers, manufacturers, and authors working to protect the world’s endangered forests and conserve natural resources. Rising was printed on acid-free 100% postconsumer-waste paper by Friesens Corporation.

For my family, for Felipe, and for my scattered tribe.

CONTENTS

The Password

Jacob’s Point, Rhode Island

PART ONE : Rampikes

Persimmons

Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana

On Gratitude

Laura Sewall: Small Point, Maine

The Marsh at the End of the World

Phippsburg, Maine

Pulse