“Horoscope” by Jeannine Hall Gailey

Jeannine Hall Gailey

HOROSCOPE

Chinese Horoscope: Born 1973, the Year of the Ox—
Sincere, persevering, stubborn, intelligent.
Born in April under Taurus, the Bull,
headstrong, material, another working stiff.

But how can a horoscope say anything about you?
laughing, he asks me. Can everyone born
in the same week, in the same year have similar traits?
Ridiculous, he shrugs, even to suggest it.

But here I am, weighted down by my intractable
horns, pushing him out of his shell, little Crab, little Cancer,
as we build a nest from earth and water.

from Rattle #20, Winter 2003

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