Two-Headed Calf

by Laura Gilpin

Tomorrow when the farm boys find this
freak of nature, they will wrap his body
in newspaper and carry him to the museum.

But tonight he is alive and in the north
field with his mother. It is a perfect
summer evening: the moon rising over
the orchard, the wind in the grass. And
as he stares into the sky, there are
twice as many stars as usual.

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Apparently this poem has been around.
Apparently nobody told me.
Apparently a handful of poetry profs didn’t think to tell me.
Apparently I believe they were in great error.
Apparently I love. LOVE. ADORE. WORSHIP. this poem.
Apparently I am seriously crushing on Ms. Gilpin.
Apparently I will grieve forever & a day and to the moon & back.

We’re not here for the comfort of those who are more interested in tone-policing instead of working to fight injustice. We will continue to speak truth to power and against injustice loudly, firmly, and clearly and need neither their permission nor their approval to do so. pic.twitter.com/DTqKKZfpej

— State Senator Erika Geiss (SD06) (@SenErikaGeiss) April 27, 2022

“There are a few things in life so beautiful they hurt: swimming in the ocean while it rains, reading alone in empty libraries, the sea of stars that appear when you’re miles away from the neon lights of the city, bars after 2am, walking in the wilderness, all the phases of the moon, the things we do not know about the universe, and you.”

— Beau Taplin

I think the little bit of hurt is well worth it. Don’t you?

Every breath of the universe teaches us that stepping forward is always the way …