Metaphor: A thing regarded as symbolic of something else. Comparing two disparate things. Yesterday, the presentation at the Roslyn Library revolved around Ellen Bass and metaphor. When Ellen came back to poetry in her 50s, the emphasis was more about craft than when she was younger. Her poems now start with something we all hold in common like daughters, butterflies, chicken bones, figs. Somewhere inside the poem, when the poem is talking back to her, the poem evolves into a deeper, darker place. Metaphors slip inside your mind without notice of what they entail. Horses: I wasn't thinking when I lifted the saddle onto Kansas back three days ago and rode down the driveway. We made it to the gate before I leaped off and when Kansas was free, she galloped up hill bucking. three days in hand now and the conversation has started: arch neck, fast run - her trot is faster, halt with a raised hand, eye as big as m y fist. Kali, Watch out for her! Today she keeps her eye on me. Halt at the gates, I walk through. She walks through. Walk on the lunge line on gravel by porch. Halt. Walk to her shoulder fast. Don't turn in Kali. Point to her hip and it turns away. Point to the other hip, it turns away. Small steps, big steps, small steps big steps. Not is my space Ms Kalypso! Beau arches. Trot 3, walk 5, trot 3. Trot small steps. Hooves almost in place. He watches me from large, round eye. Creeks are flooding beside us. "M heart is your neck arched in front of he rippled creek.