Rope burns redden her worn hands
She's done this years on end
The daily struggle never bothers her
Bucolic bothers are still so ideal
The cow tugs against her
The maid pulls back stronger
The cow doesn't know that the maid is trying to help
The maid doesn't realize the cow is being gentle
Her horns mean nothing
Her hooves tread gently on the damp grass
All she wants are her sleepless calves
Who beg of her attention
The maid steps out from her shoes so slightly
The cow lowers her head
The maid in blue leans backward, coaxing the cow
The cow shifts her weight forward in response
The yellow bonnet on her head absorbs the sweat
Her muscles tire, but never give in
The spring wind revitalizes her
It is a welcomed distraction, though momentary
The cow moans as the calves find place in the shade
The maid loses an inch of ground
The cow accomplishes a small victory
The maid jerks inadvertently
Her udders burn, yet her heart ignores
She points her head against the breeze
Ever more determined to gain again
A tug of morning, a pulse of war
The maid notices the cow's directed gaze
The cow feels the understanding
The maid releases the taught rope
The cow celebrates her triumph
Horodner, Stuart, and Dorothy Freeman. "Favorite Cow Is Back!" Art Museum Insider. The Art Museum at the University of Kentucky, 13 Dec. 2011. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.
First of all, I love the way that the cow's perspective is in bold, while the girl's is not. Not only does it make the switches obvious, but it seems to compliment the strength of the cow against the girl. Also, I really like the way that the poem is its own story, with beginning, middle, and end. It gives the poem a sense of closure.
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