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Monday, April 19, 2010
Wild Horse Poet Dear Readers, Katie said I could share her poem with you & this is what inspired her: I had just read your post on you blog titled, Death in the Desert. The picture and blog just sparked something in me. That video that was posted as well showed what happens to happy, healthy stallions and their families and it gave me inspiration to show what it's really like, or what I imagine it to be, from the stallion's view. The heartbreak he feels at seeing his mares and foals diminish, till there is only one left. What the BLM is doing just kills me, and I'm sure many others, but for some reason, not the BLM workers. I'm glad you like the poem, it's one of my favorite things I've done. photo by Cat Kindsfather Blind by Katie Bucklein From the Mustang's View Are you just blind? Can't you see what you're doing to me? To me and my family? I remember just yesterday Just yesterday I was playing with my foals Nipping their hooves and racing through the wind with them Just yesterday, I was happy and carefree. Then, overnight, I smelled men I rushed my family to our hiding place Hoping no one would find us, “Stay silent” I say We stayed there, shaking and scared. We awoke to the sound of buzzing A giant, silver bird flew through the sky My family screamed and ran The little foals falling behind, I tried to stay with them. We were funneled through strange-looking grass Grass that stood straight up Grass that didn't blow in the breeze My family grew tired, giving in to the silver bird. We were forced, screaming into a silver tunnel A silver tunnel with no way out We were locked in, fearing for our lives We huddled close, trying to remain comforted with our family. Near the end of the journey in the silver tunnel I began to smell horses Horses that I didn't recognize I puffed up my chest, ready to fight for my family. We were funneled out of the tunnel I raced around my family, trying to keep them together I heard my foals whinnying for their mothers, Their mothers were gone; I was left with my young foals I am pushed into a crevice that leads to other horses I see a few that look like my mares I rush to them, eager to rejoin them But I soon find out that these are other stallions, just like me. I look around for my foals They're gone from sight I look for my mares I can't see them anywhere, they are gone too. I turn back to the stallions, looking for a friendly face I see none One lone black stallion in the back catches my eye I move toward him. “What is this place?” I ask the black stallion He raises his head and looks at me “The end. No way out.” He says. I look around, scared that I will die here. A short while later, I am pushed once again into a strange ring I recognize my mares and rush to them They whinny in greeting and we nuzzle each other We can't find our foals anywhere. Suddenly, a hot stick is pressed against me I jump away and scream I see a man, holding the stick and pressing it to a mare I charge him but another man slaps me with a long stick. My mares are collapsing I feel my legs shaking but remain standing I must remain strong for my mares We are once again separated and pushed back into the strange rings. I remain next to the black stallion, Breathing deeply and glancing around at other stallions I hear neighs that sound familiar I raise my muzzle and neigh back, longing for my freedom. I never once again see my foals I catch glimpses of my mares They are slowly diminishing Until only a few are left. I ask the black stallion again, “What is happening to my family?” The black stallion sighs and looks sadly around “They are dying, just like mine.” These words scare me I want my family back I want my freedom back, I wish to be running through fields again, playing with my foals. Won't someone help me? I don't want to live like this I have been here for many months, Never again seeing my family. I catch word of one of my mares still alive I wish I could see her, To see which mare is left But I never do. My foals are all gone No longer living on this earth What strange creature is doing this to us? What have we done to them? Someone save us I want to run again, To be out of this strange ring With the strange food and strange customs. I am alone Alone with hundreds of stallions that I do not know None are my sons, all grown up What has happened to them? I raise my muzzle once again, Neighing loudly into the wind Wishing to be out on the mountains again, And then I collapse onto the ground, breathing deeply. As I close my eyes one last time, I feel the black stallion sniffing my neck “Save my family if you see them.” I whisper to him, one last time. I take my last breath, Exhausted and scared Never understanding what is going on Or why. Are you just blind? Can't you see what you’re doing to me? To me and my family? Labels: mustangs, Phantom Stallion reader, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 4:24 PM 2 comments |