The challenge of the golden shovel is taking another poet’s line that I wish I had written and making the sense my own. What I admire about Mark Doty’s work is his syntax, word choice. And he does not shy away from beauty. I tried to keep beauty inside this poem. I think love and beauty are the same thing. That is why I write poetry—to bring them together in my own voice.

Anastasia Vassos has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best New Poets. She is the author of Nostos and Nike Adjusting Her Sandal. Find her work in RHINO, Whale Road Review, Thrush, Comstock Review, and elsewhere. She rides her bicycle and lives in Boston.

X: @a_vassos
I: @anastasiavassos