Six Things Taygete Had To Learn Without Being Taught
Laura Theis
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest 2021 (view all the winners)
Honorable Mention, Margaret Reid, Traditional Verse
I. how to scream
as a doe you have
no voice to speak of
but you can still make a soft
snorting noise when alarmed
you may even still sing
when in love
a kazoo rasp crossed with a rusty screen
door in the wind
II. how to be beautiful while unconscious
don't
it isn't
safe
III. how to be a moon
be fallow
elusive
but as sharp as a
shard of a god's heart
know the meaning
of fawning
make sure you aren't
followed
here and then here
and then gone
IV. how to rest
fold all four legs into a nest of moss
under the hazel branches
or slow dance along the night
sky with your sisters
learn what you can
from the comets
anyone who knows what it means to be hounded
knows how to be a star
V. how to be an offering
transform incompletely
even when slain and presented
to your goddess
continue to exist
to be chased once
again
here and then here
and then gone
if they can always find you
you learn about light speed
one step and jump away from
somebody's violent craving
you are smart enough
to know
losing yourself and finding a cervid
is almost a relief
even before all this you saw what it means
to be wearing horns of gold
VI. how to hunt and be hunted at the same time
the stars understand
it's never easy to tell the prey from the goddess
the goddess
advises
you need to be fast
you need to be less
of yourself than everyone else
only this will help you be quicker
a) on your feet
b) than him and his lightning
ask all six
of your sisters
remember the wisdom
of comets
here and then here
and then gone
This poem was commissioned by Live Canon
