THE LAST POEM

ANDREW MCBRIDE

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(a teacher explains the last poem)

the horseman wept

I wept for the horse                  and him

I used his knife
fashioned sustenance

over a small, banked fire
we roasted part of what had carried us this far

as we ate
I began teaching
save, preserve, protect, love

added, do you see how the horse
carried us, carried these words?

the horseman nodded
mouthed the words
with increasing confidence

it was then that I knew what I would do

he doused the fire

will your blanket cover both of us?
yes, he replied                  his eyes, questions 

we were shy

he whispered
a recitation of the words
added an ancient word horse

I pulled him to me
reminded him of the word love