Nomad

I only want what was promised to me,
what I heard in the ring of bronze on stone and the camel’s song and the dark of the wind’s music:
A sword, a horse, a husband, running seas of flowers,
shoals of snow.

But that is all done.
My father was not rich, what could ’rich’ give me?
Only cripple-legged, chipped-toothed, terrifying, revered.
And what, what now would courage win?
My dowry? Two black geldings,
a six-pole tent, three carpets,
leather shirt bossed with silver,
honor…

Documents.
Vaccinations.
Dim, imperious light from the nuclear power plant.
Coloring books
for my sons.