old oil stays old oil jewels stay jewels i face away from a city i cannot
leave because when the deer arrive i arrive ohio is the best part of me
ohio is the worst part of me ohio is the best part of me

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Darren Demaree the author of eight poetry collections, most recently Two Towns Over (March 2018,) which was selected as the winner of the Louise Bogan Award by Trio House Press. He is the Managing Editor of the Best of the Net Anthology and Ovenbird Poetry. He currently lives and writes in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and children.

Photography by Thomas Gillaspy.