Ribs

Emily Brandt

What was once a particular cow
decomposes, ribs finger the sunlight, body
now a leather blanket, flesh picked coyote-clean.

What we had earlier labeled “flat tire”
was the thrumming of tumbleweed
caught and locked in a stasis of dragging.

The ragweed is cut low and the garlic
grows beneath magpies. A woman’s voice

lilts slowly cross this back porch
unrecognizable for the time lapsed.


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Unrecognizable, for the time lapsed
lilts slowly cross this back porch,

grows beneath magpies, a woman’s voice.
The ragweed is cut low and the garlic

caught and locked in a stasis of dragging.
Was the thrumming of tumbleweed
what we had earlier labeled “flat tire”?

Now a leather blanket, flesh picked coyote-clean,
decomposes, ribs finger the sunlight, body
what was once a particular cow.