Four Mares, Flank to Flank

on a downtown sidewalk:
      Appaloosa, a royal silver

service. Two Clydesdales
and a Morgan—fourteen hands.
Pinwheel tails. Brushed, hair falls

      like thin, glinting fish
      slapping pavement. 

Blinders on, this world is only
what's ahead: the brick wall,
painted white; my quiet
red bicycle; the homeless shelter's
constant, blanketed out-

      pouring.