Young Horses
By LaVonda Krout

Frightened by generic males
labeled, line-drawn in books
hidden by mother
beneath her underwear,
pre-adolescent
come the horses.

Safer words collected in her mouth,
"forelock, withers, pastern, flank and girth."
She cherishes all parts of horse and tack
and draws with circled jaw
and flowing mane, on every notebook cover,
a handsome steed.

Coveting the curve and power
of muscle bunched and stretched,
controlling rhythm with a leathered whim
and wish of knees,
she learns to fly, and dreams
her nubile, equine dreams,
a pleasant soreness in her thighs.

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