This soil is bad for certain kinds of flowers. Certain seeds it will not nurture, certain fruit it will not bear, and when the land kills of its own volition, we acquiesce and say the victim had no right to live. We are wrong, of course, but it doesn't matter. It's too late. At least on the edge of my town, among the garbage and the sunflowers of my town, it's much, much, much too late.
The quote reflects on the harsh realities of certain environments that fail to support growth, drawing a parallel between soil that cannot sustain specific flowers and societal conditions that hinder personal development. In this metaphor, the inability of the land to yield certain fruits symbolizes how specific individuals or groups may be deemed unworthy or undeserving of life because of their surroundings. It speaks to the injustice in blaming the victim for their circumstances, suggesting a deeper societal disregard for those who suffer due to environmental conditions.