Her Cowboy Boots by Ellen Ruth Harrison wins 1st prize

I.

'Among the crowd of footwear

standing in her closet,

she chooses the androgynous black cowboy boots.

II.

She was of two minds,

like her stylish yet functional

leather cowboy boots.

IV.

A woman and a pair of shoes

are one.

A woman and her pair of cowboy boots

are at least two .

V.

She doesn't know which she prefers,

the seeluctress in high-heeled boots,

or the shit-kicking, tough-talking cowgirl

ruling in her cowboy boots,

or both.

VII.

O Cowboys of the Wild West,

could you have imagined over a hundred years hence

a gentlewoman wearing your boots, prancing around, shopping,

dancing, loving in the boots you rode brokeback saddle in?

IX.

When the cowboy boots are put away,

the imprint of their power remains

on her choices.

 

Mezzo-soprano Ellen Graham has performed with Cincinnati Opera, The May Festival, The Cincinnati Pops, Collegium Cincinnati, Evansville Philharmonic, Queen City Opera, concert:nova and the Vocal Arts Ensemble. Ms. Graham is the Director of Vocal Studies at Xavier University.

Collaborative pianist and vocal coach Matthew Umphreys specializes in opera, chamber music, and musical theater. He works with Cincinnati Opera, concert:nova, RokCincy, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, and the Schmidt Vocal Institute, and is the co-artistic director of Queen City Cabaret, a new jazz cabaret concert series.

Poem  by Ellen Austin-Lee