Sometimes I prefer a place
the way I experienced it in a movie
New York
Bombay
The Amazon river
a diamond mine
It can remain there
unassigned with disappointment
untouched by bad aftertaste
It can remain
in a dream state
Imagine
a perfect memory
—Stephanie Appel
JUDGE’S COMMENTS: Poem is crisp and surprising in movement and flow. Simple yet thoughtful but not heavy-handed.