Susannah Nevison: Horse Broke Clear

1

Horse broke clear

across the pasture, horse

broke clean loose

and cleared the fence. Didn't you

tell me, don’t put the cart

before the horse, didn’t you

tell me, get out in front, girl, get out

in front while you can—

down past the fence, past

the river bend, the horse

got clear of the house, clear

out of sight—

and didn’t I cut that horse

loose, fast as any knife—

2

It’s always good to get out in front,

you told me once, girl, get out

in front, but don’t put the cart

before the horse—and my horse

was a chest of knives, and wasn’t

my horse slick as any knife

and fast and sleek—and my horse

was sleek as your knife, I mean

your knife flat against my cheek

I mean didn’t I get out in front,

my horse, out in front,

and could you catch us then,

could you stop us—

and didn’t you tell me

the river is a snake, girl

but even a snake can drown.

Published 2015. Such energy: the poet has something to say, and finds the voice to say it with utter naturalness, so that the poem's drama takes over the literal horse and irresistably transmutes it.