notdeermag
Swamp Lesson, Jack Bedell
1st Place Winner of the "In the Woods Somewhere" Contest
My uncle taught me
not to fear noises
in the swamp. Nothing
that wants your blood
will make a sound.
Jack B. Bedell is Professor of English and Coordinator of Creative Writing at Southeastern Louisiana University where he also edits Louisiana Literature and directs the Louisiana Literature Press. His latest collection is Color All Maps New (Mercer University Press, 2021). He served as Louisiana Poet Laureate 2017-2019.