Wish (3)
Wish
My grandmother talked of her horses
knowing the way home,
how she could just
let loose the reins—
I wish I knew
the loosening of reins, the letting lead
the soft strong beautiful,
the flank’s dusk-silvered shiver,
the found home of sound steps.
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A drafty poem, number 3, for April for my own prompt on horses on Real Toads. I call this one drafty because I’ve done about fifteen versions and can no longer tell which I like best. Ha! Will try to keep and review at some later date.
Pic is mine, watercolor. All rights reserved.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: #napowrimo, April National Poetry Month, grandmother poem, Horse Poem, http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com, manicddaily
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ManicDDaily 
April 2, 2016 at 9:29 am
Beautiful wish. Just right
April 2, 2016 at 9:37 am
I LOVE this. I think it’s brilliant just as it is.
April 2, 2016 at 10:44 am
Whimsical, I love it, I wonder what would happen if we let go of the reins,
April 2, 2016 at 10:49 am
I do love this. Not sure you should change it.
April 2, 2016 at 10:59 am
In modern parlance it is the feeling I have with taxis that know the way to my home without guidance from me or GPS. That “Oh I know where that is!” relief of knowing I can just relax and enjoy the ride is not far off from this.
April 2, 2016 at 11:40 am
Yes, I have always loved that about horses. The homing instinct is strong in most of us though some choose to ignore it.
April 2, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Oh, this is lovely…..this learning to let lead the soft strong beautiful does occur on the journey, kiddo. Watch for it.
April 2, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Love the way this poem sounds when I read it a aloud. Also the images it brings to mind, especially the first stanza. And the wish, how I love the wish…
April 2, 2016 at 2:25 pm
I love the way your words flow together in that last stanza…beautiful writing, K! Thank you, for the challenge!
April 2, 2016 at 3:52 pm
the flank’s dusk-silvered shiver,
the found home of sound steps.
Such a gorgeous close..!
April 2, 2016 at 6:10 pm
This stirs the yearning in me to know what it feels like to ride a horse, to feel pounding freedom electrify your body…..Lovely art and words.
April 2, 2016 at 9:31 pm
This version is magical!
April 2, 2016 at 9:50 pm
Thanks so much, Rosemary.
April 2, 2016 at 10:09 pm
Your grandmother was right, K. I rode my horse to high school, three miles. Going home, I could never even but on a bridle and Minnie would just go home. A true farmer saying is that even a slow walking horse walks much faster going to the barn.
“I wish I knew the loosening of reins, the letting lead–the soft strong beautiful, the flank’s dusk-silvered shiver, the found home of sound steps.” Humans are trained differently and know so much more of attractive detours and deviations. Home becomes just another place to go.
..
April 2, 2016 at 10:25 pm
I love this version, I’d be interested in seeing some of the others too. And the picture is great too. My grandpa talked of falling asleep in the buggy after courting the woman who became my grandma, and the horse would take him safely home. Thanks for the reminder.
April 2, 2016 at 11:36 pm
“I wish I knew
the loosening of reins”
Yeah, me too.
This is an excellent poem, K. I love it.
April 3, 2016 at 1:25 am
I’m 20 hours awake after a 16 hour work day and 2 hours driving… so goofy … apologies.
I bet all 15 versions are good – thanks for inviting me to play, and for a good prompt ~