From under water and under tar

Down from the walls of caves

They came  The biologist made

A circle with her arms

That calf’s heart must have weighed

Twenty-five pounds she said — Deep inside

Each bison there is a bible

Otherwise how could they survive

Our bullets and cliffs

Our cities and flames

Our soups simmering

With the heads of their babies

Each mother grazing patiently —

A ton of flesh made of grass blades