Danielle Rose

For the Bull Rider Walking Off a Broken Leg

​The way a limp becomes swagger, an interview
in which he thanks God and his mother
for tending to his wounds. This violence
is something both desired and feared
 
because we always continue. We do
the things that we do, over and over.
Never let them close enough
to glimpse the grimace. Do not ask
 
for assistance. This is a performance
and we are all well-scripted. Me
in the stands, cheering. The Bull Rider
in the dirt, weeping. How these are the same
 
thing, just different. How I am weeping
                in the dirt while he is grinning.

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Danielle Rose is the author of two short books: at first & then and The History of Mountains. Her work can be found in Palette, Hobart & Pithead Chapel. Her twitter handle is @danirosepoet