HORSE

because I can dream

she is dead

I can dream my victim---

falling off a cliff,

junk dripping,

compensating sperm

because I can dream

delusion caresses my spirit

horse burned to death

trapped inside its stable,

nobody to lead it out

by its tail---

rope of blackfire,

teeth bared and smoking---

charred portrait!

because I can dream

see others’ faces

before my own ---

I can picture she is dead

buried forever under her rising sign,

eternally flinging dirt,

broken red fingernails

scattering frightened seagulls

almost to the sea,

she is almost home,

my victim

sure, yeah, I can dream,

I can dream about her ---

who forced a bridle between my teeth

who yanked the reins a few times

who mounted me face frozen solid---

“giddy up, come on!”

anytime she needed some spirit ---

“come on horseee!”

anytime she wanted to spoon up more death ---

“giddy up”

so she could gallop

straight through my dreams

1/11/81

Paterson, NJ