You Have to Love Them Enough to Let Them Be Wild

by Kathleen McCracken


That’s what Steve said
about the mustangs
up on Pryor Mountain –

no sugar cubes, no carrots
no coaxing, stroking, gentling
no whispering

no ropes, no tires, no pick up trucks
no dust storm swing low choppers
no Judas horse

no gathering, no holding pens
no PZP, no freeze brand
no breaking in, no putting down

no auction block, no slaughterhouse
no flank strap, no fast track
no stockyard, no consignment

no snaffles, bridles, saddles, spurs
no blankets, shoes, or blinders
no rodeo, no latigo, no cincha

no clipping, combing, currying
no conchos, braids or bells
no ranches, no reata

no binder twine for breech births
no ligatures, no doctoring
of tears & rends & bites

no vaccination, no inoculation
no sterilization
no intervention

just bales & bales
of air
seep water, galleta grass

the animal vegetable mineral
earth
exacting, punishing, available

 

Kathleen-McCracken.png

Kathleen McCracken is the author of eight collections of poetry including Blue Light, Bay and College (Penumbra Press, 1991), which was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Poetry, A Geography of Souls (Thistledown Press, 2002), Mooncalves (Exile Editions, 2007) and Tattoo Land (Exile Editions, 2009). Most recently, a bilingual English/Portuguese edition of her poetry entitled Double Self Portrait with Mirror: New and Selected Poems, was published by the Brazilian press, Editora Ex Machina.

Photo credit: John T. Davis

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