I Learn How To Say Horse In British Sign Language

The sculpture shows a horse,

rolling.

I mouth, point:

what is the sign for horse?

for rolling?

Patient, she demonstrates.

I sign horse,

horse rolling.

I want the signs to make

a poem

but my hands lack nuance;

I don’t know how

to channel language

through my whole self.

She smiles, signs to our

facilitator who translates:

She says in BSL you must

become the horse.

I watch as she

becomes the horse,

becomes the power,

becomes the joyfulness of horse,

the beauty of a horse rolling,

becomes the poem.