::POEMS:: For my horse Lady, by Lossefalme.

*** The saddest day of my life so far: 3/30/04, Lady, my horse for five years, passed away from a bad case of colic, she twisted her intestines and there was nothing we could do for her. I wrote this and the poem below on 3/31/04: I went back this morning to see her one last time. God, it was so horrible. To see her lying there, the body of the horse I’d ridden and loved and cared for for five years. It was her… but it wasn’t her. I thought of how she had been when she was alive, and how much fun we had together, and how much I loved her… and all that I had planned for us for this summer. All gone. I miss her so bad. I can’t imagine even having another horse right now. I don’t see how I can ever go into the barn or to a horse show without getting incredibly depressed.

We buried this morning in the side pasture, and lined her grave with stones. We’re going to put up a fence and plant flowers and make her a plaque. But I wish so badly I could have her back.

I wrote something for her, I thought I would put it here, because running was our favorite thing to do: ***

“For Lady”
(This poem was published in the Moniteau County Saddle Club Newsletter. I had emailed it to my mom who forwarded it to her friend, who happened to be one of the heads of the Saddle Club, and she had it published along with a sympathy note from the committee. It was very sweet of them!)

A snort, a stomp, you want to run
Chomping the bit, you know what’s to come
I grasp your mane, let go of the reins
You leap forward, glad to be free
Stretching out long legs beneath you
Eating up road at impossible speed
Soon there is nothing but wind around us
Nostrils flaring you feel the mood
Beneath the sun and the moon we fly
Running like no other has run
I throw my hands up high
Pounding hooves
Rushing wind
The world disappears around me
Your power carries me through
And your coat gleams as fire
Mane and tail streaming
You are a creature immortal
As we no longer trod the earth
But sail through the heavens unhindered
And your neigh echoes through the night
As you carry me across the sky
You taught me how to ride
You taught me how to fly
Upon your back I found true freedom
As you galloped in pure joy across the fields.

***

Goodbye
(Written 4/1/04)

I had to say goodbye to you
I had to see you sleep
You closed those big brown eyes of yours
And I could only weep
I cried for the loss of your friendship
I cried for the loss of your heart
I cried for the loss of your spirit
That had for so long walked this earth
I cried for the loss of my companion
Who for years had been at my side
Though not always together
I carried you always in my mind
I cried so hard to remember
All the good memories we’d made
It shattered my heart now to think
That we’d never make anymore together

I had to say goodbye to you
I had to see you sleep
You closed those big brown eyes of yours
And I could only weep
But when I lift my eyes to the sky
I know I’ll see you there
Standing outside the fence of heaven
Because none could keep you in
Though the angels may try to catch you back
They swiftly would be outrun
For I see you there among the stars
A fast fiery spirit galloping free
And I know you’ll be there waiting for me
When it’s finally my turn to sleep.