meet Bart and Pecos Jimmy
at the end of the dirt road
eight thousand feet up
higher than Kosciuszko
chat about forest fires
bear sightings and snowfall
while horses are watered
tighten saddles and adjust
stirrups for each rider
before mounting and setting
off across the high meadow
fluttering with white, black
golden and Monarch butterflies
ride single-file towards the forest
weaving upwards through
birch, ponderosa and aspen
always climbing and watching
blue skies above mountains
branches flicking at face-height
stones and fallen logs under hooves
daughter’s bare legs gripping
leather and smooth brown flanks
bare feet resting in cool stirrups
wind blowing sun-lightened hair
Terrific, Nat. I can smell the horses and the fresh trees. The butterflies so silent in the breeze.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteI love reading this backwards and forwards, climbing in both directions; wonderful writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks all!
ReplyDelete