This night snow floats down, each flake
so light that it doesn’t land so much as
hover precariously over fence wire and
posts, light enough to seem transparent,
lacking a gasp of breeze or the moisture
to seal it to the ground. The horses wait
in long stillness through the icy dark,
conserving even their restlessness, hair
so dense it stands straight up on passively
braced bodies, knees locked over hooves
on frozen ground, shallow breathing against
the knife air. As soon as the sun is a
quarter high, they move to the dry lot,
each horse turning a circle one direction,
perhaps the other, stirring snow into the
sand before dropping to the ground. The
young black gelding throws himself down
in a hurry to roll off the night but the older
gelding takes several steps shifting his hooves
closer, muscles straining to hold, then
blowing steam out as he eases down, care
for his stiff joints. Long shadows on this pale
morning, as the horses let the earth take their
weight and as ever, the earth warms to hold them.
…
Anna Blake at Infinity Farm
Horse Advocate, Author, Clinician, Equine ProBlog/FB/Email/Author/FB/Tweet/Amazon
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For a half a second, I could squint my eyes and think that was Rio standing by the hay barn. Nice New Year’s Eve present.
The reason squinting is so sweet. Thank you.
Lovely, Anna! Snowing now in Flagstaff. Scooter is delighted!
She hears the songs of her people… thanks, Barb.
Makes me want to go take a nice roll. Lovely.
Yay, thanks, Linda.
“the earth warms to hold them” oh my. thank you, as always for your writing, as well as everything else. All the best for 2019.
Best to you and your herd, too. Thanks, Chris. (the secret is always in the edit.
Thank you Anna for your sharing and generous words. It will be great to have you back in Portland in 2019…a Happy and Blessed New Year to you and yours ♥️
Thanks Sharon, and to you. I loved that Oregon Clinic!
Lovely, lovely poem!
Thanks, Therese
Thank you Anna. “Word photo”! Here in Australia, cool rain yesterday, the house cooled overnight, and this morning I notice our filly has knocked a board from the stable wall, no doubt to let through some breeze, as our days at present soar to nearly 100 F. Love the photo, we never get snow here, it confines itself to our High Country, which as a youngster I knew very well. When the snow lays on the backs of the horses, be sure they are not losing any body heat at all, or it would melt. Love your words.
Having downunder friends always makes seasonal writing a bit odd. Thanks Louise.
Not so odd Anna, just looking at that photo of fences laced in snow cooled me off!
Beautiful poem and photo. Thanks, Anna. Always a highlight of my day.
Wishing you and all you love a wonderful new year – and beyond.
Thank you, Jean. A happy and slightly cantankerous year to you and yours as well.
Oh how beautifully described! I can see my boy going down for a beautiful snow roll, except we haven’t had any snow yet.
Then sand will do for now. Thanks Toby.