This Is Not a Poem About My Horse

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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2006-02-20 01:56 PM

This is about when he was alive. He went to Heaven on 28 April 2002.

THIS IS NOT A POEM ABOUT MY HORSE
July 1999

This is not a poem about my horse.
It is not even a poem.
In fact, it is a non-poem -
a non-poem that would not be worthy of my horse
if it had been a poem about my horse.

I have mentioned his velvety sun-warmed, winter coat in one poem,
and in others, the solace that his companionship brings;
I have even written a whole poem about his wisdom and healing capacities,
but I am neither
capable
nor worthy
of writing about
all
of him
all in one poem.
Neither would Shakespeare, nor Wordsworth nor Blake,
if any of these Williams had been alive today.
Shakespeare would not have understood at all.
Wordsworth would only have gloried in his beauty.
Blake would only have loved him.
None of them could have bonded with him as I do.

You may think that you understand.
but you can’t - not fully.
It’s not your fault.
My children and my cat and my horse’s previous owner understand more than any.

To understand fully,
you would need to have lived for fifty-three and two thirds years;
and you would need to understand the horseness of a horse;
and you would need to be owned
by only one horse in all your life,
and that for seventeen and two thirds years;
and you would need to have seen him on average
a little more than once a day
for seventeen and two thirds years
and that makes more than 6424 times;
and the horse would need to be my horse, Flicka;
and because he is only thirty-four and two thirds years mature,
and because his previous owner didn’t own him for the first seventeen and one third years,
I am the only person in All Time,
to understand
to the capacity that I do,
the glory and the love
that is Flicka.

- Owl

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

1 posted 2006-02-20 02:14 PM

Diana...You got me into a big smile with your title and all those words that were not about your horse. I know I can't understand the way you do, but what I do understand, is love...and I can see very plainly that you loved and continue to love Flicka, as I do Michelle. Perhaps they frolic together in a meadow on the other side...would that be alright with you?

Skyfire

Member Elite

since 2000-12-27

Posts 3381
Riding

2 posted 2006-02-20 02:26 PM

I love this non poem that's not about Flicka

There's nothing worse than losing one (I lost one a year ago this March 28)

and then He created the horse...

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

3 posted 2006-02-20 03:10 PM

brought a smile of memories to my face
so loved the way you composed this

hugs to ya

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

4 posted 2006-02-20 05:21 PM

I can never understand either Diana... but oh, the love in this poem is strong. Beautiful.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

5 posted 2006-02-20 06:29 PM

Some may not understand, but I believe
I'm coming close to it...
and I sense that many of us, even
those not here,
are reading this, and smiling,
as they watch Flicka romp in
green, green, fields...

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

6 posted 2006-02-21 12:59 PM

Oh, yes, Martie!!! It’s more than all right with me!  I’d love Michelle and Flicka to be frolicking together.  That would be so wonderful for both of them (and you and I).  Thanks for the big smile and thanks for seeing how lovable Flicka is.

Skyfire, thanks for enjoying Flicka.  I ache with you for losing the horse you lost a year ago this 28 March.

Thanks Lee for the hugs and enjoying my non-poem and I am glad it brought you a smile of memories (what a lovely way to put that, but then you are Lee the wordsmith, aren’t you?  So it isn’t surprising).

Thank you Kate for understanding Flicka’s immense power of love.  It came from him to all who met him and reflected back to him – and still does with me.

Sunshine, I too, believe that you come extremely close to understanding.  And I am overjoyed at:

“and I sense that many of us, even
those not here,
are reading this, and smiling,
as they watch Flicka romp in
green, green, fields...”

I have read it so many times already.  Thank you so very, very much for that.

- Owl

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