Christina Thatcher
Convincing a Horse to Cross the Tohickon Bridge
He knows stepping off the edge
of a cliff is unnatural, that hooves do not belong
on iron. He knows catching glimpses of river beneath
our bellies is abnormal. He knows he is not meant
to move from this place to that place. He knows he should listen
to the earth, take the safest route. He knows the bridge
is green but not the right kind of green. He knows he shouldn’t
have a rider, even, shouldn’t have to bite metal. He knows
he is not meant to be here, standing at the brink
of this bridge, but what should he do? What can he do, now?