Horse Girl
Of course I galloped into this world on four legs.
My hooves thundered in time with my mother’s heartbeat.Every time she craved a taco, I whinnied.
When they named me Pickle, I guzzled my own brine
and shook my mane in delight. I cantered off
into a new moon lullaby. Someone was always singing
to me, feeding me sugar lumps.
I grew up careful, thinking carrots could be fingers,
praised for my gentleness. I let the ferrier hammer
on iron shoes and admired them when all they gave
me was blisters. I allowed saddles and reins,
let myself be blinkered into a trot, but eventually
I had my head. I reared. I lost myself in the wind.
I danced until I split free
Allison Burris
Allison Burris writes whimsical and subversive poems from Oakland, CA. Her most recent publications are in The Lit Nerds amd Redheaded Stepchild. You can find her at the library looking for a magic portal or getting up to some kitchen witchery. She writes about creativity on Substack at Ink in the Archives. Connect with her: https://linktr.ee/allisonburris