I still feel his muscles
sliding gracefully under my hands
as I curried him-
muscles ready to run,
to become the wind,
to dissolve into fire
and beat the track to glory.
I can feel the velvety tip of his nose
steaming as he snorted,
chafing at the bit,
impatient to run free.
He would nudge me for the carrots
he knew I stowed in the pockets
of my worn denim overalls.
I can smell the healthy scent
rising off his broad back
early in the morning,
a sweet combination of sweat,
energy, and eagerness
to fly.
I still remember the scent of the worn leather saddle
I would strap to his back-
the saddle that should have been thrown away
many years ago.
The straps were worn
and snapped in a heartbeat.
The nickel was green
and the leather faded.
I remember well
the day my heart died within me-
the saddle slipped
he crashed to the steaming, damp ground
still covered with wet leaves from last night's rainfall.
I heard the snap of his bones,
the scream of his agony.
But I could not comfort him,
not even when they shot him.
I was blind,
thrown to the violent caresses of the brambles
and eyes scratched beyond repair.
I am blind,
but I ride on in my dreams.
Rest well, Equus.
Author notes
Equus is the Latin word for 'horse'. This is a combination of options 2 and 3.
A contest entry
- ~Horse Lover Dreams~ by Cat -lover08.
1200 points, ended March 8, 2007, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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I remember watching a film when I was about 9 or 10 called 'Animal Farm', Orwell would not have approved. The women in that were horse lovers and there was LOTS of shooting involved.
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I don't understand? Why would you shoot a horse just to make curry out of it? People are starving in third world countries and we've come down to this?
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nah- currying a horse means to brush it with a special currying brush...you rub it in circles on the horse's back. Horse curry would be gross...
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"I still feel his muscles
sliding gracefully under my hands
as I curried him"
I am totally shocked at this! I have tried horsesteak in France and Germany and it is totally delicious. But actually turning a whole horse into a curry is a bit bizarre even for me! How many people did the curry serve? Was it a vindaloo or an Equus Madras? -
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not really, it was a Buchephalus in Marsala and eighteen cowboys brought along their dogies and baked beans with Tabasco to make it even hotter.
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Nice Description and emotion.
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reminds me of my friend who races horses...
very nice! equus is latin 4 horse! yea-i know htat!!!
I still remember the scent of the worn leather saddle
I would strap to his back-
the saddle that should have been thrown away
many years ago.
The straps were worn
and snapped in a heartbeat.
The nickel was green
WHO SHOT HIM? NOOOOOOOOOO
well done
pegleg
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the vet...he wouldn't have made it...the humane way of putting the horse out of his misery.
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oh.
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So Sad!
This was a very well-written and descriptive poem!
I loved the emotion and the end was unforeseen and very sad! Very good job!
Loved it!
castaway -
Wow
Did this realy happen?, this scared me alot I'm 10 in 2 days, wow that felt great though you took me to another planet, lol, Well done and good luck -
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Nah, I'm not blind. But I love horses and almost never get to ride them. I based this off several movies and books and personal accounts I've heard about this kind of thing. So I can imagine the pain of never being able to ride again. And I know how it feels to lose a beloved pet. So I can relate to this in a way. Thank you!
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