I’m not a person, and I want to be

Loved not for self but ability

My competition mouth and glittering eye

Go to the rider who ends my wild, naked life

I’m just a body to share and gait to shape

And there’s so much earth to dominate

They say, girl, give over the animal

To little men with the wherewithal

That they might brush my hair and steal each gnat

And with my tail tie a tourniquet

Or bind me in a button braid

And leave me soaking on my hay

I think I’d do well as property —

I ache to serve men in pageantry

I’m a showpiece. I prance, I preen

I’m sharp, I’m soft, I’m hard, I bite

I’m warm and unrelenting. These are things

Men like. And me, I just like things

So take thee hoof, take thee tooth and thigh

I’ll take hand, purse, and ribbons to fly

Don’t think I’d mind to be well-heeled once shod

Long as the heel is high and the rider God