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Open Poetry #14
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2001-07-05 09:34 PM


April 1970

not quite spring break,
first year college kids
antsy to
break away
he’d come to admire the
ring placed on my finger

staking claim on me

my friend insisting his uncle’s
horses need riding
what to do on a lazy
day

finals over

break away

guilt ladled over me and
pinked my cheeks,
never going full bore
without checking
in but
didn’t want to hear “come home”
ah…they’d never know…

so he and he and she and me
skirted the car to the
outside of town
where the canyons touched
the limits

three roans and a white,
I pick out animals now like
I did then,
whoever eyes me first
I warm to fastest…

the white had eyeballed me and
nuzzled my hand, searching for
sweets
guys quickly saddled for
the afternoon was
waning
we wouldn’t be gone long…

my friend bossed about,
perceptible now, his brow
glinting, uncle
didn’t know we were
taking horses for a ride…

but he had firm command, we
all followed his lead
until….

riding single file on the canyon’s ledge,
overhang of elm spooking the white
but young legs held tight
no sound leaving lungs
horse screaming for us all…
rearing back,
forelegs climbing air,

instantly knowing her
fear,
while my friend rushed back
to hold the reins down
got bit for his
efforts

we cleared ledge and trees
climbing to a flat area that widened out,
the white quivered beneath
my thighs
I told them “she needs to let loose”

not waiting acquiesce,

giving the horse her head
my “tch” to go

smell of panic, her
spook giving adrenaline
she shot forward and out,
I held on, perhaps even riding
well…
her muscles muscling mine
her mane flying, my mane tangling
hoof beats pounding heartbeats
lungs of both filling with
April afternoon
and warmed pine

we waited some fifteen minutes for
them to find us back in the
stables,
she and I…
having brushed her down and
starting to shake at the
thought of someone
calling, saying
she’s at the bottom of the ravine

guardian angels busy,
caring for
a foolish young girl and her white horse….

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (edited 07-05-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
Honeybee
Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372
Ontario, CANADA
1 posted 2001-07-05 09:41 PM


I love how you bring "story" poems to life  

Take care,
Melissa~

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
2 posted 2001-07-05 10:14 PM


Sounds like lots of fun...James
Interloper
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-06
Posts 8369
Deep in the heart
3 posted 2001-07-06 10:01 AM


Yes, God looks out for fools and children from 3 to 83  
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
4 posted 2001-07-06 10:08 AM


Sunshine,
A wonderful read. *L*

brian madden
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374
ireland
5 posted 2001-07-07 12:36 PM


guardian angels busy,
caring for
a foolish young girl and her white horse….


Karilea, a beautifully written poem. The last section adds a twist to it. my lazy brain needs to read this poem a few more times, to savour the details.

"Like Sand underneath the snow, I make you mine." Kristin Hersh

Logan
Senior Member
since 2001-05-28
Posts 1641
Arkansas
6 posted 2001-07-07 01:32 PM


Sigh, glad the horse had good sense to be able to make it. How too often do we do things on an impulse, that brings us to the crossroads? Glad you are still with us..very gentle smile
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