no "E"

"Look Grandpa you did it" my grandchild said.

and I said "It is you on his back,
you had control,
you and your old stallion did it, I was just standing as a position on a map"

On an animal just short of my six foot-four, my grandchild sits.

An old stallion,
an animal with many hardships during his long survival
with hurtful, barbarians,
also known as humans,

and now in scrub lands
his coat is so scraggly, .hard to touch
his hoof so frail,

Arizona sand, hot and brutal, has not hurt his will to stand up tall and carry a small child.

A kind animal, skillful at instructing a young girl,
how to work with,
how to control,
control an animal so tall and so strong.
his will is calm around a such a small girl

with only spring and fall to go,
this stallions vitality will cusp,

a young girl has his load, his trust, and his pain.
his spirit is high, with a young girl, known as Kay, on his back


his strong back, mood and humanity,..
joins with Kay,
in harmony.
in thought
in spirit
in trust


so stubborn an animal, who gladly, allows, a young girl, on his back

and a young girl who awards him with many hours of joy.



fall is now upon Kay and Stallion,
days short
his back is not so strong now
Parting is to soon.


a look from Stallion to Kay that says
"too much ,....   pain,...  now"

Kay starts sobbing.


bound by trust
both downcast
sick with sorrow
both know, but don't say, how this will finish.


Mom calls animal doctor
Stallions own doctor
doctor says,...
doctor says,..
doctor says,... no light,...
his condition is fatal
now only thing to do is lay him down.



sobbing by all
sobbing too much,
sobbing for loss,

sobbing for too long until grandma says,

call to mind,
this past spring and fall,


this past spring and fall
full of joy,
and instructions,
and trust

and most of all

this past spring and fall
so full of humanity


and Kay's first crush?
now and always
Is this old stallion