aboard a tired horse
between them they carried
more dust than he'd ever imagined
he tipped back his hat
a short-brimmed fedora
and stared around him
yes, this must be his destination
a glass silo stood not far away
three-quarters full of wheat
nearer were the stables
tricked out with gold trim
he rode in
made arrangements for his horse
and dropped to the ground
then shifted to another disguise
a prince in distress
he found the hotel
the saloon and the bath-house
and finally the cafe
he would have retired after that
except he heard music play
and wandered in search of it
the town held a dance
so he joined it
and danced away tiredness
til a partner smiled
"hello, Leda," he choked
interpreting the smile
she said she could easily turn
him back to a frog and swallow him
at heart she was always a goose
even though Zeus knew her as a swan
"you prob'ly should leave," she crooned
and he felt a days-long ride in his bones
he walked out of the dance and leaned
on a veranda post
behind him a rustle of skirts
turned into a young woman not Leda
she sidled up to him
and he noticed her head of a collie
it wasn't his night
he strolled on back to the hotel
watched the moon take a bite from the clouds
shuddered and went in and slept
rode away the next morning
still seeking his destination
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