Notes About The Poem

Chinese New Year:
Year of the Fire Horse

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When the Fire Horse Rises

When the Fire Horse rises, it climbs the empty ridge; clouds step aside, mountains dare not breathe, seasons lose their order, shadow runs ahead of time, men dare not speak— the omen enters the record, and Heaven sounds the bell. The Horse walks between, yet all paths begin where the endless river flows eastward toward the Mountain where Heaven begins again.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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George Avatar
February 25, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Dear friend Daniel, this concept of the fire horse is so new to me. How little I know of things! Not only in the history of China, but in every part of the world, the fire horse is racing showing its might, bringing fiery energy, new innovations, and sweeping changes. In the image and in your lines, I can see the prowess of this stallion. Beautiful poem on a novel theme.
Crandall Avatar
February 23, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Wow, that's cool, Daniel! You've captured the wonderment of this once in 60 years creature. I'm standing in awe of the Fire Horse, and watching as his year begins, or maybe as it ends and races toward its beginning.
Rodgers Avatar
February 24, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Hello David, Thank you and I enjoy following the Chinese Zodiac although it is hard to put much stock into it, but Asian cultures is one of my passions. Warmest Blessings, Daniel
Jones Avatar
February 23, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Wow! Wonderfully written and very imaginative! Never heard of this so thanks for sharing Daniel’
Rodgers Avatar
February 24, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Hello Karen, Thank you my friend! You are seeing some of my passions run through these words. Love Asian cultures and myths. Warmest Blessings, Daniel
Cunningham Avatar
February 22, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Another gem from your gifted pen Daniel. I hadn't heard of this before until I read your poem. Enjoy your weekend. Tom
Rodgers Avatar
February 23, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Hello Tom, As I sit here writing poetry and notes, I keep looking out my window at the 10" of snow we got last night. Thank you for your wonderful notes that help me stay warm. Warm Blessings, Tom, Daniel
Wolf Avatar
February 21, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Wonderful imagery and descriptions, Daniel, per the 'Rogers Standard of Excellence,' that you have spoiled all of us with. Bravissimo!
Rodgers Avatar
February 23, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Hello Gershon, Thank you so very much for your kind words. Warm Blessings, Gershon, Daniel
Gasun Avatar
February 21, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Lovely poem about the Chinese New Year's symbol my dear poet friend, Daniel. In fact I'm fascinated with horses. Perhaps it's the influence of my Chinese cousins dear friend so I also display pictures of horses at home for good luck. I love and enjoyed your poem. Thanks a lot for sharing and loving visit on my latest poem. I went back to revise it. If you've time, I'll invite you to visit again, Thanks so much for sharing. Belated Happy Chinese New Year! Hugs
Rodgers Avatar
February 23, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Dear Len, Thank you my friend. I grew up around horses and worked as a trail boss for a while. Unfortunately for me, that is now in the past. I love studying Chinese and Asian historical cultures, and I always follow the Chinese New Year. Warmest Blessings, Len, Daniel
Bayles Avatar
February 21, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Intriguing. I just read online things about the lunar new year, The Year of the Horse.
Rodgers Avatar
February 23, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Hello Mike, Thank you, I have always been interested in Chinese and Asian cultures, and following their lunar years has been fun. The horse returns every 12 years but the fire horse returns every 60 years. Warm Blessings, Mike, Daniel
Rodrigues Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 6:25 PM
And I also read yesterday of the bible’s “red cow,” in Numbers 19:2. I am still working on the “covenant of salt,” mentioned in Numbers 18:19. So many curious things! I love your first line. The whole poem has wonderful images and is interesting. Hugs
Rodgers Avatar
February 23, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Dear Kim, Thank you so much, my friend. I have always loved Biblical history and revelation. Keep reading, my friend! Warm Blessings, Kim, Daniel
Winter Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Dearest Daniel, I don't know anything about chinese zodiac signs but this poem is very interesting! I've been wanting to get to know about chinese zodiacs! I think this is a sign! Best, Anne
Rodgers Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Dearest Anne, I love history and different cultures. Chinese history has always held a specific fascination. Although I do not believe in astrology, I still think it is quite interesting historically. Winter Blessings, Dear Anne, Daniel
Hind Avatar
February 19, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Very interesting. I don't know anything about Chinese zodiacs, but this is very deep, but it goes in circles, the horse- my hunch is he is still moving forward. :)
Rodgers Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Dear Paige, Thank you, and although I don't put much stock into astrology it is always a fascinating historical journey. Yes the horse is still moving forward. Winter Blessings Paige, Daniel
Daniels Avatar
February 19, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Got it right, DHR ! He’s masculine, action oriented, fearless - knows when to bow to Heaven’s Bell, finishing his tasks, knowing that destruction is necessary to destroy the weeds & plant anew. But of course he had to wait for wood snake to slither her feminine course, make the path clear. I’m happy you highlighted the circle that Chinese astrology depicts a bit more clearly than Western astrology. ThkU for sharing, as always. Know that your contributions to consciousness expansion here makes a difference, as you tread your own personal path. Best to U., Ghairo
Rodgers Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Dear Ghairo, thank you. The Fire Horse in 2026, as it moves through the cycle of the Chinese zodiac, carries that action-oriented intensity you describe, but only when it knows how to bow to Heaven’s bell, that image matters. In the cosmology of the lunar calendar, no energy acts in isolation; it answers to timing, to mandate, to the great rotational order. And you’re absolutely right about the Wood Snake. The year of the Snake preceding the Horse tempers the field, strategic, intuitive, subterranean. In the 60-year sexagenary cycle governed by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, each sign is not an isolated personality type but a phase in a circular transformation. Destruction in this system is not nihilistic, it is agricultural. Burn the weeds. Aerate the soil. Begin again. Thank you forresponding with such attentiveness. That kind of dialogue is part of the circle too. Winter Blessings, Ghairo, Daniel
Anaya Avatar
February 19, 2026 at 1:40 PM
The Chinese New Year entered on the 17th. I like the drawing, I love the Guó Huà. the flower watercolor paintings. This mythical vignette charmed. Warmest wishes, Daniel!
Rodgers Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Dear Anaya, thank you for your note, my dear friend. I actually wanted to post it on that day, but I was traveling. I too like this type of art work. Winter Blessings, Anaya, Daniel
Maverick Avatar
February 19, 2026 at 11:27 AM
I sense a yin-yang flavour, in the savour Not my brew Dan, but the message came through.'
Rodgers Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Hello Joe, I guess you could say a little yin-yang. I have always been interested in Far Eastern culture, particularly Chinese culture. Although I do not put stock in Astrology it is always a historical interest. Winter Blessings, Joe, Daniel
Narain Avatar
February 19, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Nice poem.
Rodgers Avatar
February 20, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Hello Jay, Thank you very much my friend. Winter Blessings, Jay, Daniel
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