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 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