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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2009-07-22 01:41 PM



BIG YELLOW MOLES
22  July 2009

Flicka, my darling horse,

you know, in Yellowwood Park . . .

- do you remember the Yellowwood Park Stables
I rode you to,
when you first became mine
and Tania’s
and Chrisjan’s,
and where you lived for
the first four years
you were ours,
and the duck slept in your stable?-

as I was saying,
and as you know,
for the last couple of months,
there is road construction
and re-laying of waterpipes,
everywhere in Yellowwood Park,

and everybody,
(including me)
is complaining
about the detours
and the inconvenience
and the fences
that have been taken down,
and the huge concrete piping
and the piles of soil
on the side of the road,
and the crime
that is taking place
around it all,
and the time
it is taking to finish the construction work. . .

but those big yellow graders,
my Flicka boy,
oh no,
not them my darling horse,
I am not complaining about them
and
never
ever
could
and
never
ever
will.

Since the day you died
and my heart
and lungs
and stomach
were
wrenched
out of my body
and strewn
in miniscule, rough-edged pieces,
I know not where,

- since that day
when Karin
organised
for a large,
kind,
yellow,
mechanical
mole
to dig
your grave,
I have had
such a soft spot
for large, yellow graders.

Anybody
or
anything
that does
anything good
for you, my darling horse,
or reminds me of you
even more
than I think of you all the time,
is my close and revered
and much loved
friend
for
life.

Owl

© Copyright 2009 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
1 posted 2009-07-22 02:30 PM


You always bring me to tears when you write about Flicka. Diana.
                                       Ida

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
2 posted 2009-07-22 03:42 PM


Thank you, Ida, for loving Flicka, even though you never met him outside of my poems and my talking about him.  He was the most precious, loving, lovable horse in the world.

Owl

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
3 posted 2009-07-22 06:02 PM


I'll be back later or tomorrow with a 'real'reply.
Sara and I are headed to the movies in a minute...a rare treat for us.

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
4 posted 2009-07-22 06:19 PM


Smiles, Kacy.  Enjoy the movie, both of you.

Owl

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
5 posted 2009-07-22 11:33 PM



That is a very heart touching poem dear Diana about your much loved horse. I certainly feel for you. I used to own a

horse stud and I know how you can become attached to a horse, they are like one of the family. a lovely poem dear lady. love.

Lindsay

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
6 posted 2009-07-23 12:46 PM


Dear Diana, oh you write with such passion about dear Flicka, you touch the heart!

Took me some time to find out what yellow moles are, but I think I got it...

Love and hugs.

Margherita

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
7 posted 2009-07-23 12:55 PM


Dear Diana, I feel privileged to be able to read your conversations with your beloved ~ and now pip's beloved ~ Flicka. I consider him pip's spirit equine mascot!

Love and hugs to both you and Flicka,

  
Linda


OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
8 posted 2009-07-23 01:01 PM


Thank you Lindsay.  You owned a stud?  How wonderful and how lucky you were!  Were they thoroughbreds? Lippizaners? another particular breed?  riding horses?  Whatever kind they were I would have adored every single horse.  

Thank you, Margherita, for understanding so well about Flicka.  He really was the most wonderful horse in the world.  Everybody loved him, everybody interacted with him, and he adored every single person and every single animal he ever met.  He was the epitome of Love in its purest and warmest form.  And giggles about the big yellow moles!  That was what I call the graders that are huge vehicles that dig deep wide holes very quickly with a huge scoop attached to the vehicle.  In South Africa they are yellow.  I am not sure what colour they are in other countries.  I made them animals (moles) because animals are easier to love than vehicles (although I adore Gretta, my Jetta).

Owl

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
9 posted 2009-07-23 01:26 PM


My dear friend, Linda, I didn’t see your message – still can’t, but got the email notification and can see it if I select the Print option) – until now.  

I am smiling very broadly and proudly to hear you saying that Flicka also belongs to Pip and that you consider him Pip’s equine mascot.  He will LOVE that, just as he will love the love and hugs you sent him.  

It makes me very happy that you enjoy and feel priviliged to share my conversations with Flicka.  

Thanks for the love and hugs to me, but thanks even more for those to Flicka.

Owl

Ericc
Member Elite
since 2003-01-31
Posts 4178

10 posted 2009-07-23 06:43 PM


Awesome write!
LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
11 posted 2009-07-23 09:50 PM



Dear Diana, I had three stallions standing at stud, Carabou King, a palimino, High

Chaparal, an Appaloosa and another appaloosa named Man-O-war. They were busy

days but very satisfying ones. Take care.

Lindsay

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12 posted 2009-07-23 10:28 PM


Yo OwlSA,

This is very good.  

When I lived in the country, I once buried my milk cow.  It took me all day.

It was sad, because she gave good milk that I used to give away to poor kids in a nearby city that I knew about.  They enjoyed it.  She was  a good cow.

Love Bobby


2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
13 posted 2009-07-24 05:45 AM


Hello Owl, this are both tearing and sweet memories, they tear because flicka is not here anymore but they are sweet because you make her live forever for everyone...Thanks for the beautiful and generous poem.

yann

Heart2Heart
Senior Member
since 2009-05-15
Posts 738
Scotland/Norway
14 posted 2009-07-24 08:52 AM


This is a lovely poem honouring the memory of your beloved horse Owl.  I had such a wonderful relationship with my old golden retriever, Sandy, I believe he could read my mind):  I used to talk to him on the telephone when I was travelling   Had to get him put down in the end, he was 14, was so sad.

Here is a cute cut from You Tube I thought you might enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpMwAHmnbS8

Hugs 2 U
Katriona


OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
15 posted 2009-07-24 03:33 PM


Thank you, Yann, for understanding the sorrow and the joy of this poem.  Flicka is a he, but forgives you for calling him a she and thanks you for your kind words to his mother and for noticing how loved he is in Pip and how he lives forever in the memories of so many people.

Thank you Katriona for your kind response.  I loved your story about Sandy, except the part where he had to leave you to go to Heaven.  Thank you for loving Sandy so much.  He is in Heaven with Flicka now.  Flicka loves all animals and people, but especially dogs and cats and had many dog and cat friends while he was lent to me for 20½ years.  And as I said in the poem, he even had a duck friend who used to hop over the bottom half of his stable door and sleep in his stable every night - never another horse, only Flicka.  Flicka has been in Heaven now for 8 years, 2 months and 26 days.  He meets all the animals (and the special people) at the gate and shows them around Heaven and introduces them to everyone.  My Tigger, the tabby and Daisy the Maltese poodle are both 14, but fortunately are in very good health.  Thank you for the utube clip.  It is absolutely precious.  I played it twice.  

Owl

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
16 posted 2009-07-24 04:09 PM


Oops! Ericc, Lindsay and Bobby I read your replies this morning when I went online (I usually don't in the morning, but had to send a notice via email to the local paper) and didn't have time to reply, and I forgot to repy tonight when I went online.

Thank you Ericc for enjoying it.

Lindsay, thank you for your second reply - WOWWEEEE!  Palamino's and Appaloosas!  You can't get much better than that.  Neither are common at all here in South Africa, so are extra special for me.  Many years ago, there was a palamino I used to ride at a sort-of riding school just outside Bloemfontein in the middle of South Africa.  I have never met an all-over Appalooosa, but I know a very special horse whose nickname is Zebbie (I wrote about him in a poem to Flicka) who has Appaloosa colouring on his rump. What lovely names, Carabou King, High Chaparal (I remember the TV series) and Man-o-War!  

Bobby, I am sorry about your milk cow.  Thank you for working so hard all day at digging her grave.  

Owl

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