great rack . . .
by Hezekiah Allen Taylor

he describes her like an impala
but out of Africa, alone
its horns raked down and clean
from scrubbing along bark
or tough hide
or asphalt
but there's such little asphalt
where she comes from

this antelope known
for its hide,
a Peacock's flamboyance
for the ritual
of mating

but showing his humanity
he turns her away
and makes only a small comment

letting the impala
roam free
in search of
different teeth

Francine's Version -- Hezekiah's Version -- Inspiration
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