Twist rope into a jaw
(large enough to swallow
the calf whole, horns first).
Hemp tail limp in your left hand.
Wrist bones knitted into a honda knot,
pulse with each precise turn.
Your arm the axel, lariat the kicking wheel
of an overturned cart.
Hoop of rope level, steadily catching
lip of wind, whip-whistling,
lashing like an aspen’s arm.
You throw a hawk.
Watch it soar, snatch its prey,
squeeze.
4 comments:
Great strength (aptly) in the descriptive, Kerry. And an interesting 'twist' in the final stanza.
Such nice language here, Kerry. Toothsome!
Really like it, feels very accomplished and tight. The only thing that I'd look at is the last line. I keep going back and forth on it. It works, but I wonder if it could be stronger? A sharper word? I can't find one, though, so maybe why mess with simplicity there? (Wow, I'm sure this is not at all helpful!)
Like. Nicely worded.
Esp. 'whip-whistling' and esp esp esp 'you throw a hawk'
maybe that is where M and I find "squeeze" not quite right...
hawks (& lassos)...would...
grip or tighten or...
she's right it IS hard to find a word to sub.
I like the kicking wheel of an overturned cart, not sure about rope as a jaw, it seems more like a mouth...or throat.
It all works tho'.
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