joyful presence in that place

her skinny legs
tight straddled
the cow’s belly
filled with calf…
her nubbin breasts
tight pressed
against its neck
as cow grazed
stoic… to her length
and lightness on its back,
to her flicking of its ears,
her mimic grinding of
grass between her teeth
and hocking spit
that arched green froth
to dust before its hooves–
ignored her noisy sniff
of its sweaty hide…stoic
‘till girl pressed…barefoot
hard against a nine month’s
bulging in its side

girl tumbled laughing
spinning against
turning of the earth,
at ease and joyful
with her presence
in that place

Bonnie Marshall

Art by Robert Duncan