Poem: "What Matters"

I read those too. I'm happy that the poem evoked those memories! That's about what I was aiming for.

>>Oh, this is wonderful!<<

I'm glad you like it.

>>"The wild white fire of the stars" is a marvelous image...<<

<3 I've been out west where there is very low light pollution. On a moonless night, it truly looks like the sky is on fire, very primal. You can see the Milky Way quite vividly.

>> and I have a tremendous fondness for goats.<<

They are clever, useful, adorable, mischievous creatures. aldersprig and I have been discussing pygmy goats lately. And I really enjoyed some of the more exotic goat breeds from Italy. Look at the fancy horns and shaggy coats on these Sardas:
http://eng.agraria.org/goat/sarda.htm

Indeed, aldersprig and I were discussing structures for goats to climb upon. Castles, miniature mountains, that sort of thing.

>>aurochs, <3 <<

I love them too. Some people are trying to breed back to aurochs from the more atavistic cow types. I was intrigued to discover that some of Italy's classic cow breeds are aurochs types -- in a couple it really shows. Look at the horns on the Maremmana:
http://eng.agraria.org/cattle/maremmana.htm

>>And yes. Yes, this is very important.<<

Sooth. This is one of those poems I wrote to remind people of things that should not be forgotten.

>>My only teeny tiny quibble is the line about the heifer, because the animal doesn't have the ability to anticipate an abstract event like "first time" to be nervous about it. Also, because of her estrus cycle, the behavior she *does* display when she's ready for breeding would be more accurately anthropomorphized as really f*cking horny.<<

Okay, I'm aware that animals in heat are really in the mood. Yet I've repeatedly seen warnings never to mate a new heifer with a new bull, always to have one older, more experienced animal in the pairing -- because the new ones tend to be more nervous and likely to fuss while the older ones are used to the routine. It's not just cows either; that advice applies to horses, goats, rabbits, etc. Discussions of breeding hobbles often recommend using them the first time or two an animal is mated, then it's possibly to leave them off unless that individual is just always pesky. That's what I was drawing on for this.

*ponder* I suspect it's not so much nervous anticipation of sex to come, which is more a human thing, as it is not being used to the addition of a strange animal (however sexy he smells). Maybe it would work better if they were already together and kind of mincing around each other?

Most animals, even in heat, will circle and sniff or something. It's only if you put them in a chute and dump the male on top that they're likely to go at it immediately. Horses, there's actually a 'teaser' role where farmers will bring in a gelding to see if the mare is quite ready for a stallion's attention, because if she's not all the way there yet she may bite or kick him.

>>And like most instincts, there's still a greater or lesser amount of practice required before the behavior is performed smoothly. The animals are equipped by nature to do that practicing beforehand, of course, when they play-mount each other, etc.<<

*laugh* True. That can be entertaining to watch.

>>All of which is just background for my reaction. That line just seemed very much like "virgin nervous on her wedding night" when I read it, and that human cultural artifact jars with the pragmatic/realistic vibe of the rest to me. <<

If that line seems jarring to someone familiar with livestock, it would probably benefit from improvement. Howbout this...

They are still here,
waiting to see who will fulfill that ancient bargain:
the plowhorse that stepped on a beer bottle
the wary heifer intrigued by the new bull entering her pen
the prize dairy goat pregnant with triplets
the rabbit that someone picked up by the ears.

My first attempt at a change was:

the heifer watching with wary interest
as the new bull enters her pasture

That one seems a little more deft, but it's long enough to require two lines, and the other animal references in that verse are all one line each.

What do you think? Does the revised verse work, or should I try something else?

>>I love the rest of it so much, I'd probably buy a print of it otherwise. (Do you sell paper versions of your poems ever?)<<

I do indeed! Poem prints may be done on plain paper or fancy scrapbook paper, often with embellishments such as stickers or paper punches. Prices usually range $5-$10 per page. You can see samples here:
http://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com/1520948.html

Scrapbook stores usually carry a nice selection of farm-themed papers, so I might find one with a good livestock design. I checked my sticker stock and I have some lovely horse ones right now. The thing to bear in mind with "What Matters" is that it runs two pages in 12p Arial. I'd either have to shrink the text and manipulate the borders to fit it on one page, or make it a little bigger to balance out a two-page spread. If we get the poem revised to your liking, let me know and we can discuss details.

>>Or even just "..the wary heifer intrigued by the bull entering her pen..." sans the words 'new'.<<

So revised, and noted in the introduction. Thank you very much for refining this with your practical experience!

>> I think the fact that it's a heifer rather than a cow is enough to imply to new/first time. Well, to a farmer, and everyone else will get it once they get their dictionary to look up the word 'heifer' *grin* <<

*chuckle* Point.

>> But yes - wary interest is a much more apt description for what my heifers do in that sorta situation. Nice =) <<

Yay!

>>Oh, pretty papers! The plowshare sword layout would be awesome, or something else generically "rustic/farm" rather than single specific species.<<

Okay, then. Our local scrapbook store has a section of farm papers. There is usually something with a barn on it, even if they don't have that exact same one. (It's a favorite of mine too; I was delighted to find it.) I can probably find something suitable along those lines.

>> This is the kind of poem I can see hanging on a farmer's wall next to a folksy version of the ten commandmants... certainly what I'd like to do with it.<<

I would be honored.

>> Hmm... well, talking, yes, lets. My email is bovidae.at.play on gmail.<<

Will do!