stalling
by Liam Leslie
Image: “Winters Beacon” by Sean Ewing
stallions trust-gather tongues of flint and the greasewood goes to flame again
when whispers glance just sharp the rims coax forth my lips to a divine diesel
heat coursing through my skinny willow to accept this age as a mirage I indulge
the grace of a mother deep kneeling at the foot of this stable’s automatic barrel
of iron eyes my father expects to make meals of but wishes only to see brandy
my sister is up next to swing dance beyond the penny aftermaths the token radio
fuzzy but never souring the favor of a denim dress that dazzles if I could I would
ripen instead I stalk roads to summit a pass called cascade as the fault falls here
become the splinter—all sons born without a clutch are bound to lose control
Liam Leslie is a writer, educator, and archival researcher originally from Wyoming. He is currently a Graduate Steinbeck Fellow at San Jose State University, where he is pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing. His writing has been featured by the American Heritage Center, Fourteen Hills, Red Rock Review, and more.
Sean Ewing is a visual artist inspired by nature’s quiet interplay of light and shadow. His work captures fleeting beauty and offers a contemplative refuge, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and find calm amid the noise of daily life.