by Jaya Stenquist
there's no sound
so beautiful as my footfall
in the dark / sound of myself / alone
milky light hits my tusk / the only touch
I permit / when I stand near the rocks
I am a rock
the earth and I
steady circle onward / I’ve never
hit anyone / never / committed violence
against my own species / sitting here
Christmas music blasting / little blonde
children running into my legs
I would like / the joy
of solitude / not the wanting
of your hand close enough to touch wine
in your parent’s living room / sliding
home on the ice / there’s no creature
more violent to itself than me / if I saw a reflection
I would paw the black dirt / white light
tuck my armored chin I’d
charge
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