Seeing North Light

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

think of the horse instead of

how she so controls with

clenching thighs

posting on the pommel

think of the horse instead

of how with breathing leg

they rode together

riding back to the barn

seventeen hands

that wondrous mare that jumped

surely seven foot fences

whenever asked

2016

. After Catullus (64.397)

The gods will not come now impiety stains us

now that for injustice nobody desires justice

brothers killing brothers parents un-mourned

they will not come now to funerals

for a father wished death on his grown-up son

so he might marry her hesitant of his heir

they will not come now to marriages

for they see auguries in incest

even household gods flee such pollution

an evil mix blended thoroughly with madness

has turned them away they will not mind us

they do not want to dignify our feasts

not suffer their clear brilliance to be stained.

Dick Russell

2016