Brumal

The creature broke through the ice—

Why it was there in the first place, I simply couldn’t guess;

but their hesitant hooves cracked through the frosty glaze,

and, thus, they were abruptly dropped into their icy bath.

Perhaps I could have helped, but like the river I was frozen

watching agape, morbidly curious as it struggled for purchase,

frantic whinnys echoing across the solitary, glacial mountain.

It fought with a frenzy, legs kicking and mane whipping,

the bitter waters sloshing unrelenting around its body;

And still all I did was gawk with peculiarity

until finally, mercifully, the ice block flipped,

and that wild creature was trapped beneath it.

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This is a piece that I recently submitted for a zine, and although it was rejected, I was still eager to share it with others.