Uri Rosenshine

Twyckenham Notes
Issue Sixteen
Summer 2023

The Rhinoceros

his horn is beautiful
many desire it

but it is protected by law

the public adores him
because he is large
free and alone

but he is dangerous
because he is impulsive

in his happy dance
he plays out in advance
the end of his career

they hardly notice
the large body
covered with dirt
brushed by flies

they see only the horn
moving on its own…

remember the year
he danced in Marrakech
on the wet shore

miming the palms
with his shoulders

and the sea-moon
with his horn?

he seemed so light
and small

mocking the princess of Morocco
in sandals and a veil…

and what happened to him later
at the banquet?

her servants wrapped him up
so deeply in a purple shawl

only the horn
could still be seen

URI ROSENSHINE was born in Jerusalem and raised in New York City. He studied mixed media sculpture at The Art Students League of New York before going on to pursue an bachelor’s degree at Yale. There he completed a thesis in verse writing under Louise Glück and a thesis in philosophy with a focus on German Idealism and aesthetics. He continues to reside in New Haven, Connecticut, where he works at a wine store. He draws inspiration for writing from the visual arts and philosophy, from his day job, and from his friends and family. He is passionate about the processes of composition and revision. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The Missouri Review, Right Hand Pointing, Tofu Ink Arts Press, Sortes Magazine, The Journal of Undiscovered Poets, Emory Lullwater Review, Poetica Magazine, Tikkun Magazine, Writers In The Know, The New Note Poetry Magazine, and in Minutiae, achapbook self-published in collaboration with Directangle Press and hand-bound by the author.

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