Paul Shepherd lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was raised on Weather Mountain, outside Paris, Virginia. His novel, More Like Not Running Away, won the Mary McCarthy Award and was published by Sarabande Books. 

 

Isaac on the Blue Ridge


He took me to that mountain,
Furious with obedience.

Fists tied behind my back,
I wanted less mercy, only to hold him.

He lay me down, funeral
Fire beneath, never spoke,

Dragged me into his failures,
His faith. We came down. Why?

His mouth shut forever against me.
Who won? He never said.  I bit, bite back.  

 

 

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