Shelby Stephenson

Shelby Stephenson was the Poet Laureate of North Carolina, 2015-2018. His recent book of poems include Slavery and Freedom on Paul's Hill.

“Dirt Clouds,” “Accentuating Florence” and “Saying Goodbye to Florence Is Filled with Mud”

At my picture window, I raise the blinds
On the graveyard side. And, it’s you, July,
Lovely ghost? Not changed much since you were ten.
That’s how old I was when Pap George sold me
To Seth Woodall. I was thin as a seam,
Fearless, too; Runaway? Not so bold, see?

Issue 37, May 2020

Shelby Stephenson

Shelby Stephenson was the Poet Laureate of North Carolina, 2015-2018. His recent book of poems include Slavery and Freedom on Paul's Hill.

“Dirt Clouds,” “Accentuating Florence” and “Saying Goodbye to Florence Is Filled with Mud”

At my picture window, I raise the blinds
On the graveyard side. And, it’s you, July,
Lovely ghost? Not changed much since you were ten.
That’s how old I was when Pap George sold me
To Seth Woodall. I was thin as a seam,
Fearless, too; Runaway? Not so bold, see?

Issue 37, May 2020

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