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REFLECTIONS OF THE OHIO PENITENTIARY CONFLAGRATION
OF 1930, NUMBER 4: UNMARKED GRAVES
by Paul David Adkins
The graves of most, unmarked,
as if peopled beneath the mown lawn
of the Governor's Mansion:
grass and grass and grass patted
to gentle hills
by God's enormous Hand.
​
Who had the money for a stone in 1930?
The condemned are lain face down.
​
Not even a pyramid of gravel,
and eye to guard.
ABOUT PAUL
Paul David Adkins lives in NY. He served in the US Army from 1991-2013. Most recently, he earned a MA in Writing and The Oral Tradition from The Graduate Institute, Bethany, CT. He spends his days either counseling soldiers or teaching college students in a NY state correctional institute.
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