Linking with the Sunday Muse for Muse # 82 hosted this week by the lovely and amazing poet Shay.
Come join us!
There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.
~John Lubbock
My heart has never been trampled on by horses
Only the heart of a bitter man could be so cruel
No man has ever carried me through wild meadows
Only a horse’s spirit could be that kind
I have traveled far enough down graveled roads
to learn that to be
so
For the heart of a horse is deep like a sea
It rises and swells and touches all who come near
But the heart of a man whose soul has grown cold
Is a treacherous journey that will leave you lost and alone
Once you have been down that frost bit road
It can leave you as hurt as an old man’s aching back
And weary like the old woman that brought him his dinner
For years upon years
Still I walked away a long time ago
Searching for a peaceful place
I found it in my children’s children
And the sunrise of their eyes
like riding beautiful horses
I learned to rest upon the comfort of giving hearts
And linger with the
softness of their free spirit
For my heart has never been trampled on by horses
Only the heart of a bitter man could be so cruel.
Your best ever, imo! Wow, perfect, Carrie. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteYou made my day Shay! You are such an amazing poet, so a compliment like this I shall always hold dear! Thank you for a wonderful photo to muse to!
Delete"Only a horse's spirit could be that kind...." Or a dog's, or a wolf's. I love this, Carrie. I LOVE "For the heart of a horse is deep like a sea." Having been friends with all of my sister's horses, especially a grand old gal who died at 33, I agree. They are deep, wise souls. I agree with Shay, this is one of your finest. I love the old man's aching back and the weariness of the old woman who brought him his dinner. SO GOOD! The sunrise of your grandchildren's eyes.....how they revive hope in we who have been down that aching road..........closing with your opening lines makes this poem - absolutely perfect. I would be after you for this one, were I still doing poems of the week or I Wish I Had Written This. I really feel this one........we have traveled similar pathways, I suspect.
DeleteThank you so much Sherry, and I agree a dog or a wolf follow suite with the horse. I so enjoyed yours as well. Such a wonderful love story of your Grandma and Grandpa!
DeleteOh... I have seen both men and women growing cold to each other... what a terrible way to be trampled like that. I could see how you can escape to the soul of an animal ...
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes I wonder what they think of us.
A wonderful point Bjorn ...I wonder what they think of us too.
DeleteThat "frost bit road"--that might have left marks after reading! Love the way you contrast generosity and its lack in this.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Chrissa!
DeleteSome humans do seem to trample on hearts . I think they have forgotten compassion. These two lines really bring the poem home as there is comfort in knowing kindness is out there. Beautiful piece that pulls at the heartstrings.
ReplyDeleteI learned to rest upon the comfort of giving hearts
And linger with the softness of their free spirit
Thank you Truedessa...and yes compassion is something some have a shortage of.
DeleteThankfully there are things which won't break our hearts, like a horse of kind spirit.. This drew me in - thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThank you A.J. and yes thankfully there are those things and creatures that do not break hearts.
DeleteThis is absolutely exquisite, Carrie. The comparison between man and animal runs throughout, and the repetition seals it.
ReplyDeleteAwww thank you so much Sara! :-)
DeleteEloquently spoken Carrie, I felt this story!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Regina, I am glad you liked it! :-)
Delete