Gravitas

A quarter cow in a cardboard box
is heavy can barely be lifted

the cow had eyes had legs
the cow now only its roasts

I carry it from trunk to house
ground round and chuck

up the stairs and into the freezer
discover my chore is not only

burden but cheerless
there is much in a marriage

that is cheerless the husband wanting
a windy wisp-ness web-like escarolian

though not exactly the opposite
of pot roast which is clotted leaves a trail

they made a son a deep-mouthed glint
crocus mud-specked oak if

there is sky if there is grieving
the meat which is flank

which is rump or rib not the aimless
aspen's swirl not the bed

which is heavy on her frothy thoughts
on her flimsy foolish head

Copyright © 2006 Martha Silano All rights reserved
from Blue Positive
Steel Toe Books
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission