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?