Post by Jameson on Dec 17, 2003 14:35:55 GMT -5
Er...I don't write much but I had a free day and felt like it.
A horse galloped freely over the open plains. Mane and tail flying in the wind as it covered the ground effortlessly between us. I turned sharply at the sound of hooves and found myself entranced by the sight before me. I had often passed horses grazing in groups on the open plains but there was something different about this creature that caught my eye and made me halt my step. The mare possessed a presence, a beauty, grace and power that took my breath away and I found myself gawking awkardly from where I stood.
She stopped for a moment, intelligent head held high, ever watchful of what was going on around her. The spirit, wildness and freedom of this creature enticed me and I found myself edging nearer. Perhaps I longed to be her, to escape the shackles of my own existence, to roam the land without constraint.
She regarded me through dark eyes, gentle and kind, her breath soft against my outstretched hand. It tickled my skin, but not unpleasantly.
A moment of quiet understanding passed between us, and for that moment nothing else existed in my world. We were at peace with one another, happy in each others company. I reached out a tentative hand to smooth her neck in slow, gentle, soothing strokes. I spoke kind words of reassurance. My voice hushed so as not to break the spell.
When finally I took a step backwards to admire her beauty she took a step forwards, towards me. This acceptance that she offered me brought a slow smile to my face. I felt immense joy, like I was floating on air, an elation that brought a grin to my face and joyous laughter to my voice. I suddenly felt important. Like I mattered. I swallowed down my excited and considered the possibility that it had been mere coincidence.
So I stepped back again uncertainly, and once again she followed me. I laughed to the sky, throwing my arms around her neck, beaming with pride as I basked in the comfort and reassurance such closeness brings.
At last we had found each other. My mind raced ahead. I pictured us going for long rides in the wilderness where time was lost and forgotten, exploring the lands together, galloping recklessly like wild things across a blurred landscape. We would have such fun together. This beautiful creature would be mine. I would look after her and take good care of her. She would want for nothing. I would give her everything she wanted and more. I would make her happy and she would be mine.
I reached into my pocket and found a length of rope which I effortlessly made into a halter. She lowered her head as I slipped it over her ears, fitting it snugly around her nose. As I moved forwards she followed, the rope swinging slack between us. Her willingness to follow made me smile to myself .
We walked across the gently sloping land at an unhurried pace, side by side, taking in the scenery around us.
In the distance I caught sight of an animal, another horse heading towards us and I felt my hand close instinctively on the rope. I looked to my horse and she had stopped , her attention taken by the intruder. A cold fear crept over me, a paralysing dread that crushed my chest, making it difficult to breathe.
"No"
I scrambled around in my pockets for some food, anything I could tempt her with. Anything that would divert her interest. I frantically waved a carrot in front of her face, but she stared blindly through me, all attention on the other horse. I had nothing else to offer her. Nothing I could bribe her with. She would leave me. She would run off with the other horse.
"No!"
I tugged the rope and I for the first time I saw alarm in her dark eyes. She pulled back from me. Her whole being suddenly rigid and tense. I had broken the fragile trust between us. My own stupidity had undone everything I had worked so hard to achieve. The crushing realization of this enraged me further and I yanked with all my might to hold onto that which I treasured so dearly.
She glared at me with surprise and mistrust and as she pulled against me I increased my grip on the rope, leaning back against her strength, trying to keep my footing on the slippery wet grass.
"You have to stay with me! You can't leave!"
I gasped and whined as I clung on desperately.
All my dreams and promises of tomorrow were being trodden into the mud under frenzied hooves. Besmirched and unrecognisable.
She reared and leapt away from me. The sudden pressure of the halter suffocating and unbearable. The harder she tried to escape me the tighter I held on. The rope burned through my hands, biting into the soft flesh of my fingers, a searing pain that left me breathless but unable to let go.
The rope snapped, severing the connection. I slipped and fell, still clutching the empty halter in my hand as I heard her hoofbeats fading into the distance. I found myself lying face down in mud. Worthless, bitter resentment flooded me as I spat in the dirt. How fitting that I should end up here. I wiped a splattering of mud from my cheek and propped myself up on one elbow.
And there she was ..galloping free, just like the first time I had glimpsed her. She was charging around with the other horse, leaping with sheer exuberance as they kicked out playfully at each other.
The truth dawned on me and I watched her through new eyes. The beach rides, the lazy summer treks dissolved before my eyes. My dreams had been nothing more then fantasy. To condemn a horse such as that to a life of mundane routine and servitude was unforgivable. Her future lay in far greater places then at my side. To bring her down to my level would be cruel, callous and unfair. Shame flooded me as I realised the error of my ways. Her freedom and wildness of spirit were what had attracted me to her originally and I had tried to steal those very things from her. My own selfishness and greed had clouded my judgement. My neediness, my own shortcomings and failings had obscured the truth of the situation and made me blind to the harm I had almost caused.
I smiled through my tears, a smile genuine and warm as I watched them race across the pasture. As they disappeared over the horizon I sent a prayer with them wishing them a safe passage through the world and the courage to run forever. I got to my feet and brushed off my clothes relieved that no serious damage had been done and as I walked slowly back the way I had come I was grateful for the fact that she had touched my life that particular day.
A horse galloped freely over the open plains. Mane and tail flying in the wind as it covered the ground effortlessly between us. I turned sharply at the sound of hooves and found myself entranced by the sight before me. I had often passed horses grazing in groups on the open plains but there was something different about this creature that caught my eye and made me halt my step. The mare possessed a presence, a beauty, grace and power that took my breath away and I found myself gawking awkardly from where I stood.
She stopped for a moment, intelligent head held high, ever watchful of what was going on around her. The spirit, wildness and freedom of this creature enticed me and I found myself edging nearer. Perhaps I longed to be her, to escape the shackles of my own existence, to roam the land without constraint.
She regarded me through dark eyes, gentle and kind, her breath soft against my outstretched hand. It tickled my skin, but not unpleasantly.
A moment of quiet understanding passed between us, and for that moment nothing else existed in my world. We were at peace with one another, happy in each others company. I reached out a tentative hand to smooth her neck in slow, gentle, soothing strokes. I spoke kind words of reassurance. My voice hushed so as not to break the spell.
When finally I took a step backwards to admire her beauty she took a step forwards, towards me. This acceptance that she offered me brought a slow smile to my face. I felt immense joy, like I was floating on air, an elation that brought a grin to my face and joyous laughter to my voice. I suddenly felt important. Like I mattered. I swallowed down my excited and considered the possibility that it had been mere coincidence.
So I stepped back again uncertainly, and once again she followed me. I laughed to the sky, throwing my arms around her neck, beaming with pride as I basked in the comfort and reassurance such closeness brings.
At last we had found each other. My mind raced ahead. I pictured us going for long rides in the wilderness where time was lost and forgotten, exploring the lands together, galloping recklessly like wild things across a blurred landscape. We would have such fun together. This beautiful creature would be mine. I would look after her and take good care of her. She would want for nothing. I would give her everything she wanted and more. I would make her happy and she would be mine.
I reached into my pocket and found a length of rope which I effortlessly made into a halter. She lowered her head as I slipped it over her ears, fitting it snugly around her nose. As I moved forwards she followed, the rope swinging slack between us. Her willingness to follow made me smile to myself .
We walked across the gently sloping land at an unhurried pace, side by side, taking in the scenery around us.
In the distance I caught sight of an animal, another horse heading towards us and I felt my hand close instinctively on the rope. I looked to my horse and she had stopped , her attention taken by the intruder. A cold fear crept over me, a paralysing dread that crushed my chest, making it difficult to breathe.
"No"
I scrambled around in my pockets for some food, anything I could tempt her with. Anything that would divert her interest. I frantically waved a carrot in front of her face, but she stared blindly through me, all attention on the other horse. I had nothing else to offer her. Nothing I could bribe her with. She would leave me. She would run off with the other horse.
"No!"
I tugged the rope and I for the first time I saw alarm in her dark eyes. She pulled back from me. Her whole being suddenly rigid and tense. I had broken the fragile trust between us. My own stupidity had undone everything I had worked so hard to achieve. The crushing realization of this enraged me further and I yanked with all my might to hold onto that which I treasured so dearly.
She glared at me with surprise and mistrust and as she pulled against me I increased my grip on the rope, leaning back against her strength, trying to keep my footing on the slippery wet grass.
"You have to stay with me! You can't leave!"
I gasped and whined as I clung on desperately.
All my dreams and promises of tomorrow were being trodden into the mud under frenzied hooves. Besmirched and unrecognisable.
She reared and leapt away from me. The sudden pressure of the halter suffocating and unbearable. The harder she tried to escape me the tighter I held on. The rope burned through my hands, biting into the soft flesh of my fingers, a searing pain that left me breathless but unable to let go.
The rope snapped, severing the connection. I slipped and fell, still clutching the empty halter in my hand as I heard her hoofbeats fading into the distance. I found myself lying face down in mud. Worthless, bitter resentment flooded me as I spat in the dirt. How fitting that I should end up here. I wiped a splattering of mud from my cheek and propped myself up on one elbow.
And there she was ..galloping free, just like the first time I had glimpsed her. She was charging around with the other horse, leaping with sheer exuberance as they kicked out playfully at each other.
The truth dawned on me and I watched her through new eyes. The beach rides, the lazy summer treks dissolved before my eyes. My dreams had been nothing more then fantasy. To condemn a horse such as that to a life of mundane routine and servitude was unforgivable. Her future lay in far greater places then at my side. To bring her down to my level would be cruel, callous and unfair. Shame flooded me as I realised the error of my ways. Her freedom and wildness of spirit were what had attracted me to her originally and I had tried to steal those very things from her. My own selfishness and greed had clouded my judgement. My neediness, my own shortcomings and failings had obscured the truth of the situation and made me blind to the harm I had almost caused.
I smiled through my tears, a smile genuine and warm as I watched them race across the pasture. As they disappeared over the horizon I sent a prayer with them wishing them a safe passage through the world and the courage to run forever. I got to my feet and brushed off my clothes relieved that no serious damage had been done and as I walked slowly back the way I had come I was grateful for the fact that she had touched my life that particular day.