Zac Solomon

So long before the earth was tamed and taught, 
there was a race between two wild brothers.
Their breasts did bare the reckonings of pride.
a man was one, strong beast the challenger.

The victor would be known throughout the lands, 
as a great protector and worthy king.
The loser would concede with noble grace,
living his days in service of his brother. 

When crickets sang the two began with haste, 
an ancient wind lent credence to their contest.
They ran into a future unforeseen,
one that would change the lands they called their home. 

They bound fair fields of bluestem and red rye.
They leapt grand mesas of sandstone and shale.
They raced until the sun dipped his face below,
and after his wife revealed hers in the night. 

The hearty beast’s strong hooves did crack and ache.
Mouth of man foamed from unbroken running night.
Their hides blistered from rays of cloudless sky,
and tears carved muddy rivers down their cheeks. 

The man was nearly lost, his legs weary,
although he had deceptions yet to play.
He grabbed ahold his brothers rugged back,
hoisting himself upon the mighty hump.

The noble buffalo did thrash and rear, 
but he could not shake his brother above.
Together they galloped into shrouded night,
one final time they rode as equals on. 

An end was near the race surely complete,
the man pulled himself atop the beast’s great head,
wily arms and legs both coiled tight with force.
the buffalo bound forth with vigor and haste .

Though not a moment left man burst forth from, 
atop his brother’s head, with arms stretched out.
Man seized his victory through guile and gall, 
a steward to his brother he would become.