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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2005-12-06 05:37 PM

This was written while my horse was still alive. He died on 28 April 2002 at the age of 37½. I was his for 20½ years.

Solitude
1991

Can it be
that to revel in moods
of sun and wind and rain,
To caress the velvet warmth
of sunshine
on my horse’s winter coat,
To share opinions
with him
on matters
of workaday importance,
To walk in ecstasy
through leafy forests
bustling with little lives
and little sounds,
To wander through
poetry books
and piano music
in the bowels of the night,
I have to be alone?

It seems
I must choose
between solitude
and
polystyrene conversations
about false nails
and BMW’s,
while stringing my lips
into plastic smiles
that hurt my head.
Oh Solitude
cool, silent, soothing Solitude,
forgive me
for having doubted you so.

- Owl

wranx
Member Elite

since 2002-06-07

Posts 3689
Moved from a shack to a barn

1 posted 2005-12-06 09:38 PM

This is very nicely done. And though never a horseman, something I understand well

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

2 posted 2005-12-06 10:19 PM

Oooh WOW!!
Not many poems leave me speechless and wanting more..
but, this one does!
Well done indeed.
Hugs~Nancy

bgj
Member

since 2005-11-09

Posts 128
Ga. USA

3 posted 2005-12-06 10:20 PM

Enjoyed this. Well done. Sorry about your horse.
bgj

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

4 posted 2005-12-07 09:20 AM

You are an amazing writer, am sorry I have not read you sooner, but glad I have now.

Leaping like a winner
a purebred beauty wonder
He races against time

Knowing not why
only that it feels
Oh - so good to be alive!

The wild wind invades his lungs
like a long lost love
accelerating to the sound of the sight of
the ecstasy of flight

Midnight mane flowing
disguising wild staring eyes
he cries aloud
defying nature the stars the sky

And with the maelstrom
beating in tune
with the intensity
of the pounding within his chest

He submits
at last
to freedom

Love to you both.

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

5 posted 2005-12-07 09:33 AM

Bravo! I, like Sue, will be looking for more from you!!

Outstanding write.

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

6 posted 2005-12-08 08:02 AM

Thanks, wranx.  Although Flicka was my steed, he was far more my child, my very best friend, my confidante, my only doctor, my shoulder to cry on.  For the last about 10 years of his life, I didn't ride him as he had had a ligament injury and his vet had said no riding for 10 months.  After that I rode him once or twice, but was so afraid I may injure the healed injury again, that I decided to retire him and from then on, I just took him out of his stable every dat and walked him, did his food, groomed him and talked non-stop to him.  He was so very loved by everybody and never in 22½ (I knew him for 2 years before my children and I were officially his) did he ever, ever bite or kick a person or other animal - other than a horse - and only then if the horse really, really provoked him.  He adored everyone and especially dogs.  There was a cat who was almost inseparable from, and a duck used to choose only his stable (out of many other horses, stables) to sleep in.

Thank you Enchantress.

bgj - you have no idea how much I appreciated your saying that you were sorry about my horse's death.

littlewing, littlewing, littlewing - the tears are coursing down my cheeks - your poem is so verrrrrrrrrry beautiful.  Thank you ... and thank you for understanding that I still talk to my horse and am able to pass on your love to him.

Thank you very much Susan Caldwell.

I just hope that this wonderful response by so many of you won't encourage me too much to post too much about my horse.  I think some people in some poetry forums think I go overboard about him.  I usually don't post my poetry to/about him, but this is such a friendly forum, that I took the plunge.

- Owl

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

7 posted 2005-12-09 09:49 AM

*smiling here*

it posted 3 times . . . and you write what is in your heart . . . no mind to others.

Am glad you liked, its an old write, I never knew why I wrote it. Guess now I do.

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

8 posted 2005-12-09 01:32 PM

Plunge away, Diana. We can never get enough of horsing around

(or good poetry, for that matter)

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

9 posted 2005-12-09 01:55 PM

Thanks you, littlewing - for your response and for knowing why you wrote that exquisite horse hymn.

Thanks, Balladeer - for removing the two repeats(!) and for your response (smiles). Flicka, my horse loved people being happy
and so would love you to joke! Thanks, too, for implying that you like my poetry. You may be sorry that you asked for my poetry about my horse. Some of it is a bit heavy! Especially the poems I wrote after his death. I'll possibly get up the courage to post some soon.

- Owl

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