I felt the horse’s heart in the grass
on some pasture that won
the hearts of settlers long ago
I felt the horse’s heart in the grass
I heard it pound  
I lifted the dirt
pound by pound
to get to it

I felt the horse’s heart in the sternum of the man
in the throat of his wife
on some farm that was won
with wives and horses

I felt the horse’s heart
splayed out in the grass on its side
where the wife lied
where she lied on her side

I felt the horse’s heart as it whined
in the sternum of the man
against her throat

I felt the heavy
angry red metal
horse’s heart in the grass
on some patch of seedy land
that was not won
that was **taken