John Prine by Mark Jackley

The gravestones of slaves

in Waterford, Virginia, 

are crudely hewn rocks.

Some bear no names, 

only diamond raindrops

in April. Still becoming,

under the snowy, leaking

stars. Hello out there.

Mark Jackley lives in Purcellville, VA. His poems have appeared in Sugar House Review, The Cape Rock, Talking River, and other journals.