Matt Prater is a poet and writer from Saltville, VA (US). His work has appeared in journals throughout his native Appalachia, including in Appalachian Heritage, Appalachian Journal, drafthorse, Floyd County Moonshine, The Hollins Critic, James Dickey Review, Kudzu, Motif, Now & Then, The Pikeville Review, Revolution John, Still: The Journal, and Town Creek Poetry, among other publications. Winner of the James Still Prize for Short Story and the George Scarbrough Prize for Poetry, he has taught at universities throughout the region, including at Appalachian State, Bluefield College, Emory & Henry College, and King University. He is currently an MFA candidate in poetry at Virginia Tech. Read his poems here.