Half a Cow

when you haven’t got a trailer

the easiest way to move a cow 
down the road 
to sell

is to put its calf in the back of a pickup

and drive.

that cow will run through a city street

packed with noisy smoking red-eyed people

without batting an eye.

that cow will gallop over a rickety metal bridge

so long as it can see the calf.

you can go 20

and you won’t lose the thing.

the most difficult part 

is covering up the calf in a tarp 

once the sale is made.

you only have one shot at it

and it has to be quick.

because if the mother catches you,

you’ve sold the other man

half a cow

at full price.