The Appaloosa
In winter the Appaloosa disappeared and though we walked his haunts and searched the fields we never found his prints or guessed his will But there were times when staring from my warmth of fire and shadows that I thought I saw some horse shape flash of freedom cross the snow That Spring we found him where the ground gave way rendered helpless, frozen where he stood, a space too narrow to leap or raise a hoof his body poised as if he meant to stand and wait until the ground rose up again Then I recalled the nights I thought I saw that horse like shape of frenzy cross the snow and wondered if his spirit freed from flesh was roaming with abandon now at ease too often nature holds what God would free Phibby Venable |