blackbird online journal spring 2002 vol.1 no. 1

POETRY


SARAH VAP

The Cow Can’t Fear Something Eternal

Cowboy song with no words
to the cows—the one inspired
by your dream of tying a steak

to a cow’s back. You thought her hunger was beautiful
and efficient, and I admired it.
After all, this notion that cows have it all

just isn’t true.
If I spoke to the spirit of the cow, and if it was unusual
and impassable—then I would tell her

what she gave up on so easily. And if the cow said nothing in the end?
I’d call her Pan,
I’d call her Vice-President of My Heart. I’d say

Come on, just one night.  


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