I.

weve run together for days,
the poles chafing our shoulders--
we've had no choice
but to champion our mother
over the dirt path
toward the stone house

the road is narrowing
as the weeds rush by
snapping in the spokes--
run faster, the wheels are turning
the secret from her
and the sun is scorching our backs


II.

contrary to legend, the brothers
never died from exhaustion
nor from Apollo's quixotic mercy
but they did sleep well for two nights
as their mother rambled on in the dark

they left Delphi crestfallen
and slumped into the harness on the third morning,
glanced at the mumbling woman
and headed back to the farm