Herd Pondering
A poem by Karen Poppy

Herd Pondering

Loosen the limbs,
Sleep with my herd
In this still heat.

Flies have traveled
From us living to
Haunt a carcass,
Taste and devour
In slow enjoyment.

My breath steadies
In synchronicity
With my group.

Night and day
Make me question
How the body breathes,
How the river flows
In our collective breath.

About the Author:

A non-binary poet, Karen Poppy’s debut full-length poetry collection, Diving at the Lip of the Water, is published by Beltway Editions (2023). An attorney licensed in California and Texas, Karen Poppy lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. More at KarenPoppy.com

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