for my brother Greg
must tighten the cinch
wrap up the reins and open the shoot
eventually this rodeo will buck
us all to the ground
it won’t matter much
at that time
who gasps in the stands
if there is a little blood
we won’t cry
if we live long enough
between now and then
we may welcome the thud
perhaps if we cowboyed well
when the moment arrives
we’ll be allowed to be
with the ones we’ve loved
after the clowns come rescue us
from the raging beast
that is this life
