Saturday, February 5, 2011

A PREFERENCE FOR HORSEFLESH


Silence disturbs him now, it ekes with hush-hush voices
of family that pretend
to respect, but do not.
He remembers
the horses scattered before she was trampled.
He can hear himself scream
stand down the cattle
see them run crosswise
through barbed-wire
hoof by hoof, he ruminates
knows more of animals and land.
Hoof by hoof he solders wild things
more predictable than flesh
easier than conversation
where details dull
unlike strips of leather
wound in his hand
or the stark smell
of animal under a hot brand.

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