Her years on flat open prairie, the
hard-scrap jumble of danger and chance
left only the essentials: skeptical wisdom,
long-ear sensibility, and eyes that watch with
great vigilance from deep under her brow.
She keeps an entrancing distance. Magnetic
in her independence.
This caretaker of a small farm with a strong
back for throwing hay, filling troughs, repairing
fence. I’ll bring a soft mush to her stall but
I’m not willing to make it a bribe. Neither
of us mere beasts of burden, we have each
been both predator and prey. We know
the value of self-reliance.
We live on this land, it sustains our bodies
and our instincts, gives us trust in nature’s
plan going forward, so this old girl needs
no dependence on me. She and I are free
to choose to stay apart or come closer,
as guarded equals owing no debt and
demanding no allegiance.
“we have each been both predator and prey. We know
the value of self-reliance.”
This helps.
Thank you. Good luck in the New Year.
I especially love this one. The gift of no hidden agenda gives both ways. Freedom. Free love.
Thanks. I’m always looking for the words for autonomy, for animals and for women. Have a good New Year, Judy. Free Love.
I think Lilith would approve. Love to you and your gang. No bribes.
Thanks, my friend. This isn’t what I told you I was writing. I think I’ll be writing about Lilith for a while… Best in the New Year to you and yours.
Either way. I think she’d approve. Some of these guys just worm their way in and inspire us for years to come, don’t they.
I love the dignity of this Anna.
That she is. I’m trying to learn it. Thanks, Wendi.
I can’t decide which one I love more – the picture or the poem.
<3
Thank you, Shiarrael.
This touches something in me I can’t even name yet. Anna will probably help with that, too.
I can’t name it either but another twenty years and I’ll be close. Thanks, Lori.
Everyone’s comments times two or more!!
And the photos says it all!!
Thanks from the ‘cold’ south.
Thanks, Ellen. I think that we sent that cold your way.
Love your poetry
Thanks, Callie. (Me, too.)
God, how you hit true being.
Thank you for your sharing and blessings to you..
Best wishes, back to you, Maureen. Thanks for reading along.
Yeah Baby!
Onward to 2018!
Like a dog on a bone, Lynell. 🙂 Thanks.
Yeah Baby!
Onward to 2018!
Love this. Happy new year.
>
Happy New Year back, for all of us. Thanks.
Love the pic!
Thanks, Susan.
‘She can make the choice to come closer…’
So many people could learn a lot from this ‘mere’ quote alone especially when working with rescue animals, why do we persist in pushing ourselves into their space…?
Great poem Anna you continue to inspire and teach us all!
Thanks, Frances. The truth is that it continues to inspire and teach ME. (We are a pushy species about a lot of things.)