The Politics of Horses

A barn breathes through them
kicks hard against their lungs.
Liberty knuckles tight
around the calmness of martyrs.

I've seen the way a horse will dominate
push the others against the fence
across borders with their bulldozer
chests.

A farrier once handed me a sharp tool,
taught me to run my hand down
the back of the horse's leg – taught me
to dig deeply into the hoof, You can't dig
deep enough he said.

Did I say I'm afraid of horses?
The only thing that stops them is more
dominance, darkness, and the watch-fires
burning in the distance.
Joy Gaines-Friedler
Millbrook, F.H. Michigan USA
Donated to The N.O.A.H Project