Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective

Bruce Dethlefsen, born in Kansas City, has two chapbooks, A Decent Reedand Something Near the Dance Floor, and most recently a full-length book, Breather, published by Fireweed Press. He is Secretary of The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets.

Bruce’s poetry has been featured on Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanacand Your Daily Poem.  He lives in Westfield, Wisconsin.

White Stallions

the children of the street
must see themselves
in the greasy puddles of the forenoon
in the sundown storefront windows
in the luster of the shoes they shine

must see themselves
in the reflection of a customer’s sunglasses
in the tears of the old women
in the shadow of the bus

the children of the street
must see themselves
flying purple kites on sunny beaches
dining with the family after church
riding white stallions

the children of the street
must see themselves

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