the intellectual lasso,
her plymouth twine lariat
hanging in a dozen coils on
a salvaged flat head nail in the
log, twirled one too many times,
frayed rope, the one she used to
loop around her saddle horn, the
one she used to pull a sled along side
her and the horse on which newborn
lambs could be ferried from pasture to
the shed, the ewes following behind,

sap on the cabin
walls drip, sticky dominoes,
fortunately there is plenty of kerosene,
kindling, firewood, and beeswax candles,

the rafters whistle, her
cold draft blows through me,
mud and straw needs repacked,
chokecherries from down by the ditch
leave me with sweet memories, sealed
half-pint Mason jars of jam, the berries
she picked,

tangible symbols of
women once inspired
of each other, the ashcan
piece of life that remains, the
fire that once blazed in the four
poster bed,

sitting in my claw-foot
tub, such rarities in life
humbly takes its place in
the warm water, keeps me
focusing on the real measure
of time, it need only be a place
where you breathe in the pungent
scent of sage and contemplate in quiet...

the intellectual lasso...


Copyright 2007 Ms. Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist

Sage Sweetwater has closed her poetry board for reviews on Authors Den.  Please feel free to read Sage's poetry, but she asks that her readers leave no reviews.  Thank you to all of you who have been generous and left reviews for Sage Sweetwater since July 2005.  Thank you.


THE BUCKSKIN SKIRT OAR TRAVELER

http://www.booksforchristians.com/bk_detail.asp?isbn=1420821601

FROM THE CONVENT TO THE RAWHIDE: THE SAGA OF SADIE CADE AND VI MONTANA

http://www.booksforchristians.com/bk_detail.asp?isbn=1425926339





Sage Sweetwater Profile Page on Nextcat.com