Poem for a Unicorn in Michigan

Elizabeth Alford

Your hoofbeats silently falling like snow,
Your breath like a winter breeze,
Your horn as sharp as any knife.
Silver starlight falls dead upon your hide.
You cannot be illuminated, for
You are the light. You are the glow
These early nights, when the sun fails
And the moon is hidden.
You are newer than the new moon,
Older than the trees,
You are softer than the rabbit
And harsher than the rocks in the lakes.
The snow is falling steadily, but
Disappearing when it hits the ground-
You and your eternity have chosen wretchedly.
There are still waves on the water
This cloudy night, this starry night,
You walked into the sea, now choose
To be cradled in the arms of Lake Huron.
As you disappear beneath the waves,
For a moment your horn will be all
That sticks up out of the water,
Shining like a beacon,
Like a lighthouse.

You did not die like all the fools said.
You are the glimmer on the water,
Light shining from your head.

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Elizabeth Alford
Elizabeth Alford is a queer disabled poet and fiction writer whose works often revolves around fantasy, disability and mental health. Elizabeth lives in Michigan, which often influences their writing.