The Great Red Horse

My Horse, My Heart

Under a tree, my beloved steed

Earth and roots now hold you near.

Twisted branches scrape the painted sky

With sun to soothe and stars to guide.

My old friend, he is there in the nimbus

Wind shapes his hoof and molds his ear.

I see him in the rays through my window

I hear him in the gust through the flue.

My horse, my heart--he is near.

My horse, my heart--he is here.

~Helen Scanlon, 7/10/11

(from the soon-to-be-published book, My Horse, My Heart:  The Morgan Horses of the University of Connecticut) 

above photo: UC Ringmaster, 2006. Copyright Helen Scanlon.