Home » Poems » P.S. Awtry » Black Horse Coming

Black Horse Coming

A man pounding at my door,
stood there wild-eyed and flailing.
His voice though hoarse nearly roared
changed to whisper then wailing

As he had this bit to say:

     The good men and the bad men,
     they’re all dying just the same!
     Those you don’t know, those you do know,
     those who never had a name.

     Does it wake you?
     Does it shake you?
     Does it take you 
     by surprise,
     that the good men and the bad men
     and the foolish and the wise,

     are all dying?
     Are you crying,
     or trying to decide,
     if the path that you have taken
     has been narrow
     or been wide?

     The rich man,
     the strong man,
     the blind men,
     and the lame,
     the good men and the bad men,
     they’re all dying just the same!
     Those you don’t know,
     those you do know,
     those who never had a name,

     those who know truth,
     those who show you
     all their petty little lies.
     Does it scare you?
     Oh beware, you
     will soon meet your own demise.

     Can you hear the black horse coming
     with his pounding steady stride?
     For he’s coming.
     Oh, he’s coming!
     Be ready for the ride!

Then he turned and walked away.

What he's seen I do not know,
likely madness taken flight.
I'll stand watch till morning's glow,
for I'll have no sleep tonight.

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Timothy Mcguire

Date: 6/9/2020 3:39:00 PM

Absolutely fantastic! I love it, a FAV for me. Well well done.

P.S. Awtry
Date: 6/9/2020 3:45:00 PM

thank you so much for the fav! I am glad you liked this one. :) ps

Geoffrey Brewer

Date: 1/9/2019 1:52:00 AM

A striking dramatic poem. The use of a wild eyed third party to tell a tale or give a warning is highly effective as Coleridge found in his ‘Ancient Mariner. This is impressive, P.S.

P.S. Awtry
Date: 1/9/2019 9:28:00 AM

Thank you so much Geoffrey. When I first posted this one there was no narrator or wild eyed character...but, I felt I needed some layer between me and the reader. I am glad there's an edit option!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/7/2019 12:38:00 PM

I'm revisiting this one with you, because I remember how it struck me, and I wanted to share that with you: The feeling of both Paul Revere's Midnight Ride AND The Headless Horseman came over me simultaneously. Therein lay the intense drama...Once again, this IS such a bold, dramatic, imaginative poem. Great job! Best always, Gershon

P.S. Awtry
Date: 1/7/2019 12:49:00 PM

the chanting came to my mind watching a particularly gruesome movie... the black horse was in a vivid dream I had.. that still sort of scares me. thank you for your revisit and sharing your insight.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/2/2019 9:15:00 AM

Wow! So dramatic! … I really like the idea that every year comes with a reckoning. Of course, that's lost on most celebrants these days, but thanks for resurrecting it!! Bravo! :) gw

P.S. Awtry
Date: 1/2/2019 3:14:00 PM

Gershon, thank you for your comment. The idea of reckoning certainly fits the ominous picture I see :( This was one of those that sort of came from nowhere and played in my head.

Timothy Mcguire

Date: 1/1/2019 6:04:00 PM

Excellent PS

P.S. Awtry
Date: 1/1/2019 6:31:00 PM

thank you so much, Timothy for your visit and compliment :)