"Trails and Dance," by Jessica Kirby

"Trails and Dance"
(Jessica Kirby)


I ride the peak to contemplate my view
Pick thorns from my aching legs
and swallow the familiar and the new

Whiskey glass plenty, water cups are few
Gone are rusty nails for solid wooden pegs
I ride the peak to contemplate the view

My horse's prints outlined with early morning dew
My own obscured with smears of red-orange mud
I swallow the familiar and the new
They drink to find what everyone has found
And some will drown in their own fallacious flood
I ride the peak to contemplate the view

Some carry knives, others hand-made bows
they all crave the copper taste of blood
but never swallow the familiar and the new

I slow my feet when the mocking bird flew
watch the rapacious snake feast from her eggs
I ride the peak to contemplate my view
and swallow the familiar and the new

"Trails and Dance" by Jessica Kirby was read at the Word of Mouth poetry gathering in Athens on June 6 and originally appeared on the Word of Mouth website.