Heidi McCoy

the ranch, being sold

i must have thought always

to return,

that these hills were mine

if i claimed them.

but it's been years

since i stood

four foot nine and squinting

into the green sun of

this orchard, the deeps of this

dusty forest.

now

all my bridges are set to burning

indiscriminately.

the rest of my life

           hangs open:

a treacherous mouth.

three months left.

my home, soon buckled under

grape vines, small talk

of rich people on holiday.

i don't drink wine anymore

and the sound of my distraction

recalls the rhythm of hooves.

the scent of wild lupine injures me.

if i didn't know better, i might try

to claw my way back.

Heidi McCoy was born in Maui, Hawaii and raised on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, where she spent her childhood reading, horseback riding and poking dead things with sticks.  She has been published previously in Red Wheelbarrow and currently resides in Santa Cruz.  She intends to accomplish something really impressive as soon as possible.  "the ranch, being sold" is from her collection, Mechanical Scrapbook.  She can be reached at pistolkitten@hotmail.com.