sagittarius
when time lavas the lungs
and you’ve begun to tack yourself
like a hollywood voodoo doll
to your own promises
remember that you are an archer
you know how to get a wish
where it’s going by aiming above
the gravity of a situation
let your arrow follow the path
of the panicked cat’s back
when classmates or colleagues gobble at you
in iron and mistletoe
until the red light between your brain
and your eyes begins to blink
remember that you are a centaur
you’ll never fit in with the bipeds
except those who’ve read their history
flaunt your naked torso pat
your own rump
and if you hear hissing hoof it
* * *
Evie Shockley is the author of a half-red sea (Carolina Wren Press, 2006), the new black (Wesleyan UP, forthcoming 2011), and two chapbooks. No Tell Motel first published this poem in October 2007. Evie wrote, "I have been in a life-long love affair – not deep, but meaningful – with astrology; my birthday is November 28th."