she stood with her coarse and curly
hair
at the edge of life

the pool was empty
but
she wanted to dive anyway

until

the juggler said
with a voice like thorns

no
there’s no space
in that place
for a dame like you

to which she replied

who
are you
to tell me what to do

the horses were free
they did not sell their souls

they roamed the glacial tundra
until the warmth melted the ice
and the water disappeared

the girl dove
her locks were
the last thing we saw
as she drowned in the freedom

except

of course

the horse

COPYRIGHT 2001 by Michael Bonanno
LOC Reg. #TXu 988-155

Reproduction of “foolish
verses” or any part
therein without the
express written permission
of Michael Bonanno is
prohibited unless the
reproduction meets The
Copyright Act “fair use”
doctrine, (title 17, U. S. Code)..

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