Cowboy.

Photo by Adam Coleman

find me in the high Sierra way up in the icy air i’ll be the cowboy dirt in my scalp this dogged ride saddle thumping between my thighs the sky ablaze day fighting to hold night sucking its final breath dusk dropping its velvet curtain over mountains arrowheads buried in cool ground squinting in smoke a drunken stumble of horses hooves limping through embers burning hips calves collar bones flames leaping at ropes that cannot hold i burn burn burn burn and desert night still smelling sweet stars one couldn’t conceive in daylight throb in blackness sprawled across my horse’s back I howl cinders on my neck i howl bare chest open mouth a perfect “o” i howl fingers outstretched pulling the dawn i howl i howl i howl.