Orion editors Jennifer Sahn, Andrew Blechman, and Jason Houston discuss the May/June 2012 issue of Orion, including Craig Childs’ piece titled The Rule of the Phoenix about the rise and fall and rise again of civilizations; the second installment in James Gustave Speth’s two-part manifesto about envisioning a better future for America the Possible; Wendell Berry’s poignant short story about the meaning of home; author James MacKinnon’s sobering view of nature; and fascinating photos of food as viewed through a high-powered microscope.