A herd of cows blocked our way down the hill,
strewn across the path as if they were boulders.
Since a barbed wire fence stretched out to either side,
there was no going around them.

Spooked by their number, by their restlessness - 
by the sheer muscular bulk of each one -
we stepped back up the trail to consider
an alternate route to what lay ahead.

Just then, an older gentleman approached
and strolled right through that mass of hooves and fur, 
whistling to himself as he went by.

The bovines parted like the Symplegades,
          so we hurried over the cattle guard
          before they closed in again behind us.