Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Out West

 

Lilies sprout,

butterflies rise up from their petals.

A new blade appears,

shining in the dirt,

flint sharp.

 

The beautiful things

aren’t dead,

one says.

True, echoes another.

 

Did I hear that right?

 

But all I’m met with

are bright, cherubic smiles

thrown over their shoulders

one after the other.

 

I take their meaning.

 

Jump fences, barbed wire,

float on dreams

left swirling up from the dust

on the trail.

 

Switchblade the lasso from your wings,

dig those boot heels in, girl,

 

fly.

 

 

© 2024 Jennifer Wagner

 

 

For Dora’s prompt at dVerse Poetics

 

5 comments:

  1. I felt the first ride of Spring in this lovely poem. Even if that is not what you intended it is something you created. Nice.

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  2. Ecstatically lovely, filled with the joy of life (despite fences, barbed wire) that those "cherubic smiles" communicate. And communicate they do. You heard that right! :) I know it's Muhammad Ali's line, but I got to say, Jen, your poetry floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee (as needed.)

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  3. Ah, this reminds me of Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In"! The desert is one of those extreme locations in which I sometimes find an amplified sense of things. As always, you've handled your subject in your signature unique way, Jen.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzEs243BX1s

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  4. Hot diggity, you go Cowgirl! Great writing as always😊

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  5. You start with the lightest of touch and then end with digging the heels! Your words just don't fly, Jennifer, they soar!❤️

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Thank you for your thoughts!