Wisdom he passed on to school children in his travels.
Active man with no pretenses.
Good Man that was a recovering alcoholic
Oasis of knowledge.
Nature had captivated his lifestyle.
Joining him in his travels were Sugar Foot his saddle horse.
Offbeat from the mainstream lifestyle.
His home, two covered wagons pulled by six mules.
Negativity had no part of his life.
Calm halts clouds swollen with snow,
they will resent the continuous blow
of the four winds of bitter February;
an unleashed snowstorm is pure fury!
An elated mood rises amid the air of glumness,
April rain is far from the mornings of tearfulness;
snowy meadows will return to their vivid lushness...
even winter birds can't wait for spring cheerfulness!
I fret thinking about isolated days,
activities are limited to sceneries;
be a skier and be ready for thrills:
see deer leaping on foxes' trails!
Walking is exploring the quite wilderness
under the glistening coat of magical whiteness;
Jays that ate berries miss their sweetness...
all birds rely on feeders on those harsh winters!
Travel the whitened roads of the stunning wilderness,
they offer reflective poets joyful quotes of stillness;
a long ride on a saddle horse going at a slow pace
opens up the landscape to a stream with a lively dace!
HORSE GALLOPING
A lone horse galloping vibrant on open wide meadow
striking wild thorny bushes, feral grasses
with hard tilted hooves.
It is a saddle horse without any rider.
Glossy skin was shining under dazzling Sun in sizzling noon.
Silky curly brownish mane dancing in hot breeze.
Has it abandoned its rider or in search of its owner?
Driven by irresistible force of inner inertia.
Scorching blazing Sun is ahead, not a pleasant venture.
Bathed in tremendous heat
Yet not losing its proud arrogant posture.
Why is the aristocrat dynamic runner so restless careless?
Yet may not be aimless.
Some ethereal dream mesmerizing the noble animal
to reach Paradise, its goal.
03/31/20
Fourth Place
'Some Paradise Where Horses Go' Contest by Michelle Faulkner
My only Friend
Between now and the bitter end
My saddle horse will be my only friend
Unlike the woman of my past
Our love for each other will last and last
Since I'm speaking of her I will confide
This big ole walker is more fun to ride
When things in my marriage started to go awry
I saddled up and waived goodbye
Into the high country we did fly
Before anyone could see me cry
All I have left is my trusty steed
For the rest of my life he's all I need
By Mike Francis