Jessica Tater
2nd place, Senior Category (15-18 years)
fur and feather
where fur meets feather
they found it
plenty
bird wing touched
rabbit body two
creatures became whole
woven close by stories of
spotting soulmates
in broken light through trees
struck from their senses
won’t be eating
alone again tonight
plato once told us we began
with two faces one
body most powerful
four arms four
legs four hands for
we loved to share
angry at our intimacy zeus
broke us like bread
threw our pieces north and south
torn by famine starving
for a forgotten flavour we break
our bodies to become one again
hungry to become filled then
emptied together forever kindly
asking for more
now caged in glass preserved
as proof it is possible
like zeus we are sick with jealousy
we thirst for their smooth blend
forage the forest floor
scan the skies
in vain some follow recipes
of their own image foolishly
searching in mirrors but
real love is foreign taste
salt and pepper
fur and feather