“Momentary gods” by Cheryl Isbister
Poetry Pause is the League of Canadian Poets’ daily poetry dispatch. Read “Momentary gods” by Cheryl Isbister.
Momentary gods
By Cheryl Isbister
They gather at the track,
Horses, riders, and watchers
Sore joints, T-shirts, sandals, skin holding loosely to crooked bones
Collapsing heavily onto tired wooden stands with peeling once-white paint
Grey metal fence wire gives places for chubby fingers to cling and climb
Then to fall and roll laughing to grass
Like salmon flopping on a deck, mouths open, maw-mawing in delight
Shiny braids, skin smooth as a cedar trunk with stripped bark, cowboy boots, and teasing
smiles jostle shoulders and brush fingertips on tippy blue nylon chairs
Unknowingly heeding an ancient calling to touch, to breathe, to want
The announcer’s voice rumbles auctioneer-style, an undercurrent to the cheerful babble of the
currently inattentive masses
Look!
Trotting to the oval
Horses paw and whinny, anticipation mounting, an overwhelming desire to RUN RUN RUN
Consent given finally by the starterโs horn and the VA TAN! of their riderโs urgent voices
Captivated faces pivot to the saddleless stallions carrying war-painted riders as they turn the
barrel and leap to the straightaway on the fresh-raked track
Like bulldozers, their thrusting back hooves
Kick hoof-size chunks of sweaty earth up past the ridersโ heads
Dirt fireworks that dazzle their audience
Now gazing awestruck with lips slightly parted at the wild horses with wilder brown riders
Quickening to a fast faster fastest gallop
Faster! demands the hive mind of horses-riders-spectators
GO! (FASTER) scream the ecstatic watchers
Faster they race
Horses sleek
Riders inclined lips to necks
Muscled Rippling Solid Sleek Lithe Tensed
Gripping Urging FASTER STILL! ALMOST THERE!
Riders and crowd leaning in, breathless and panting for the anticipated finish
The announcerโs voice comes hard and fast, Heโs winning, heโs winning, HEโS WINNING, HE
WON!!!
The crowd erupts in screams and cheers, tension released
They breathe a satisfied sigh and their heartbeat slows
Horses run gallop trot canter walk
Toss their manes and nicker proudly
Riders smile relax wave laugh
Skin bare and slick, intensely alive
Victory lap over, they slip away
Sated and satisfied
The crowd gazes after these horses, these riders
These momentary gods
And with a sigh, they too disappear into the elongated shadows of the fading gentle summer
night
Copyright ยฉ Cheryl Isbister
Cheryl Isbister is a Metis author and educator from Red River Winnipeg, currently living in Victoria, BC. The most important themes in her work have to do with being kind to one another, protecting the land, water, and air. Things are always changing, but those things will remain important to us no matter what.
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