Brian Batchelor was awarded First Place in Poetry in the 2015 Prison Writing Contest. 

Dear crusted gravestone, 
granite mortal marker, 

                       Dear lichen 
Dear vine, Dear dirt 
ditch and spade: 

                                Salutations. 

Dear death-calm waters,
liquid-slack

                           Dear raft, 
anchorless and adrift, 
Dear hunched horizon, 
Dear looming dark— 

still air 
stale and flat—  

                      Dear disorienting gloom, 
Dear cypress oar, Dear compass 
rusted and soot-stained, 

Dear farewell beacon, 
amorous star 
that breaks the black— 

                                 Hello.