I dream of horses
The bodies bucking with them,
surrendered to the holy beast to
speed, to light
to the animal of their wild
pearl snaps billowing behind them.
Oklahoma red dirt-rich
Oil-stained, hooves nailed to heaven, 
what freedom is this? 
I can see how it might seem violent, 
might make you wrinkle your nose at it
might cause you to drive 37 miles north, 
might disturb the soul who does not know 
what violence earned. 
Who forgets the ways in which we’re 
animal, circling the arena, barreling towards death? 
Feet stomping our existence into heaven. 
The cowboy saints persist
We were here, we were here
In spite of and because
We rode the horses & roped the cattle, we
have not forgotten how to be free.