The horses are “wild mares” because this is a poem, their pounding “rhythmic” and their breathing “deep” not because Stone has observed mares closely (although she may have) but because this is the language one uses to describe wild mares. Metaphor is a breezy business; the nearest to hand will do: “Cocks and Mares” begins “Every man wants to be a stud” and puns on “cock” and “fowl.” ..... I’m being hard on a ninety-three-year-old woman not simply because condescending to her would be worse, but because once in a while Stone produces something disturbing and exact.