Rodney Wittwer‘s poem “Tire Swing, Frozen River,” inspired in part by photographs by Laura McPhee.
TIRE SWING, FROZEN RIVER
When she sleeps on the horse in her yellow slicker,
he holds the harness which keeps her hat
from flying over the mountain. Also, so it won’t snow.
If she kills the hen with her massive hands there will be
no quick feasting at the pub, stripping the wings
will span days. Her uncle’s step-brother’s son
takes a chainsaw to his truck then treats his daughter
like an egg. Early clouds, then clearing.
Rodney Wittwer 2011
Read more in our article on art in response to art.
Images: photographs by Laura McPhee, courtesy of Carroll and Sons Gallery: MATTIE, BOB, AND BO, ROAD CREEK CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO (2005); MATTIE WITH A BOURBON RED TURKEY LAVERTY RANCH CUSTER COUNTY IDAHO NOVEMBER (2004); and TIRE SWING, ALTURAS LAKE, BLAINE COUNTY, IDAHO (2005).