by Stephanie Small

Created on: February 06, 2011

Ancient Chalk Horses or Leucippotomy
Cut into the mountain,
prehistoric white chalk,
the horses march across time
their bodies flexing under the eternal sun

I wish I could carve those sleek animals
into my skin
If I did, would they ripple up?
Thick white ribbons of scar tissue

Standing white and pale
Their alabaster bodies curving
As if capturing the moment of swiftness
before it dissipates

Artists so cunning with stone
A testament to ancient times
Sending messages to Elysium
I wish I could craft chalk like you

I would put unicorns on the hillsides
So everyone saw their dancing forms
But would they sink into the sod
Their horns beneath the dirt

They would wonder at them
But I yearn to take the unicorn from its grove
And let  its horn do some work
Let it conn our oily waters

But I am only here to wish and believe
Perhaps they'll ask more of me
But for now, I will wish for a hill
To carve my unicorns into the earth

Learn more about this author, Stephanie Small.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.