My father thrilled at the ocean’s swell
And his father sailed the main
And though I sought the hill and dell
My son was called to the sea again.
–
But to me, the deck of a mighty galleon
Took second to a Spanish steed
And the sea of grass and a snorting stallion
Did my heart’s fancy feed!
–
As if from the womb a dream was mine
To sail the mountains and prairie
On the deck of a native cayuse fine
Who’s heart bore the whims of a fairie
–
Whose hooves were his wings and keel
And his flowing mane his sail
And the wind of the west my face did feel
My rudder his midnight tail
–
My kingdom is of clouds and cattle and grass
My throne of Iberian leather
And when you hear hoofbeats as I pass
You’ll know that my heart is a feather
That was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful animal friend and the tale of a life yet to unfold. The poem and then the photo brought more than one tear to my eyes.