Cabrito
by Kitty Boots
the last snow melted half-way, froze overnight
into an unyielding crust
Felipe and Eladio grinding corn for the goats
drink Budweiser and laugh at us
Kathy carries a cattle prod
bucks are aggressive without the distraction of does
Mariposa, the skinny hound, crawls out from under the trailer
pouncing on the ice as we walk to the barn
pouncing on the ice as we walk to the barn
weak light seeps through slats
ankle-deep straw muffles footsteps
the smell is female, musky
rich with milk and blood
the uneaten placenta reminds me of my own
I hold twins close to my chest
rag dolls with glassy marble eyes
Kathy begins to name them
Liliana, Esmeralda...
she says they'll be ready to slaughter in time for Easter
I'm invited, but I know I won't be back
I'm invited, but I know I won't be back
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Author's Note
my friend Kathy raises goats
Other stories by Kitty Boots
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Hell yes *
Homely and warm. Beautifully said.
Oh!
About as real as it gets. Excellent.
Gulp
Thank you, Dave, Erika, Gary, Daniel and Matt!
"weak light seeps through slats
ankle-deep straw muffles footsteps
the smell is female, musky
rich with milk and blood"
Strong imagery. I like this. A poem that could easily fit in the pages of American Primitive.
Thank you, Sam!
Makes me squirm but it's really good. ***
***, K.B. So well did you present the imagery, reading felt like I was watching a film.
So grounded in the details, and the sense of life rising, and then the surgical curtailment. This poem hurts, in the best way.
Thank you, Charlotte, David J. and David A.!
Fantastic, Kitty *
Lived.
*
Thank you, Arturo
Thank you, Bill
"glassy, marble eyes." Got me.*
Thank you, Tim!
Well done!
"the smell is female, musky
rich with milk and blood
the uneaten placenta reminds me of my own"
Beautiful, vivid. ***
Well done as always
*
Thank you, Darryl, Rachna and Ray!
"...rich with milk and blood." *
Thank you, Steve!