The author of this poem entered a contest given only the accompanying picture, “A Lonesome Border” by Carmella Dolmer.

As of my writing this, I’ve just discovered that one of the poetry contests I entered released a long list of 100 finalists out of 706 that entered.

And I didn’t make the long list.

I really can’t wait to get a copy of the 50 short list’s finalists and their works.

They will be highly scrutinized.

But all this to say, the title poem is better than anything I’ve written.

I will concede where it is due. Trust me.