Caren Krutsinger | + Follow Poet |
Free verse | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

The Horse Is Dead Dismount

My husband and I know how to stop an argument
One of us says
The horse is dead
Dismount

This immediately stops the argument
because if the horse is dead
what good will yelling at it, hitting it, and kicking it do?
This has worked for us for fifty years

If you live with a person who lives and screams,
All this commotion must be making her feel badly also.
The simple question
"what are you getting out of all of this screaming?"
might help her to realize what she is doing to herself.

Maybe it is helping her defuse from a bad day at work.
If there are more bad days than good days,
This is a job she does not need to go to.
Maybe she needs help thinking about it.

"Shhhhh you are scaring the dog," might help
And taking her to yoga, meditation. or axe-throwing class
Might help her calm down and save her son from
wanting to tear out what hair he has left.

Please Login to post a comment

M. L. Kiser Date: 9/27/2019 9:23:00 PM Wise idea, "the horse is dead"; that can come in handy for anyone. Login to Reply Caren Krutsinger Date: 9/28/2019 1:25:00 AM It does and some deserve the actual dead horse too.

Jeanne Mcgee Date: 9/26/2019 2:21:00 PM You've hit such truth with your words...I love the idea of the horse is dead and will have to give it a try if I ever get in that situation. xoxo Login to Reply Caren Krutsinger Date: 9/27/2019 12:33:00 AM We use it so often the other one says "MOO" which used to mean something but we have both forgotten what. This does not stop us from using "MOO" whenever we want. I think it means "That's obvious, stupid."

Panagiota Romios Date: 9/26/2019 1:55:00 PM I'm with Maurice on axe throwing. Arguing goes in circles. Madness. PR Login to Reply Caren Krutsinger Date: 9/27/2019 12:33:00 AM I love the idea of axe-throwing! It will be my next hobby!

Maurice Rigoler Date: 9/26/2019 12:23:00 PM Love the last stanza, Caren, especially the "axe-throwing class"! I try my best not to let others fluster me. But I do like "the horse is dead / dismount." Just might try that when I'm faced with an encounter. / M Login to Reply Caren Krutsinger Date: 9/27/2019 12:34:00 AM You also may want to use "MOO" - see above in comments for that explanation.