It was always the bay
who drew his eye.

Panther black silk tendrilled tresses
swept across smooth muscles.
Sleek blood-red coat
reflected first light to last
like the dancing canopy of a wildfire.

Others
crowded the white four-board fence,
raced his rusty blue pickup,
rushed at each tossed
broken bale,
ears pinned in warning,
teeth bared like the devil’s carrousel
to tear dry chunks of hay.
Blew dust
between greedy bites.   

From her raised corner vista
she watched the sunrise,
knowing
he would stop,
step out,
climb the fence,

and gently lay
the sweetest flake
at her feet.

 © 2021 Linda Rittenhouse
1st Place ASPS Cowboy Award
Sponsored by Stuart Watkins
First published in Sandcutters