Centauress
by Leah Shelleda

Who Can Dream Of A Centauress? 

                        Who can dream of a centauress?
                        ...It is essential to refrain
                        from imagining them galloping
                        on the plain.
                                     Gaston Bachelard

Ixion, akin to axis mundi
called pivot, spine and polestar,
gave birth to centaur, torso of man
and hoof of beast, the both of all,
staff and spike of wisdom, a dream
of galloping will, the ardent plunge
and cunning.
But centauress or centaurette?
Axis mundi called universal trunk
and tree of life and axle pine,
there is a she, shy glimmer of torso
not gallop but woodland trot
spirit mare and wise trunk
bred to stillness.
Whatever has breath,
green cell or spore,
what creeps and crawls
is he and she
from that it follows
a centauress must be.

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