Dark Spot

Erika loved her horse, Dark Spot,
The spot was between its eyes,
And everywhere Erika rode with it,
They said it was no surprise.
‘That spot’s right there on its forehead, girl,
It shimmers in rain and mist,
Before we see who the rider is
We see that mark, like a fist.’

And true, it looked like a fist, it did,
A fist all covered in blood.
The horse was black but the fist was red,
Red-brown, as if it was mud.
She loved that horse with her very life
And he must have loved her too,
That bold black galloping stallion did
Whatever she wanted to do.

But Saul de Vere was a jealous man,
And watched whenever she’d ride,
He had a passion for Erika’s hand
And wished to make her his bride.
She wasn’t ready to settle down
And said that he’d have to wait,
But every time she was saddling up
He’d stand by the stable gate.

‘Why do you love that horse so much?’
His anger tended to flare,
‘I’d give my all for a tender touch,
You act as if I’m not there!’
‘When you can carry me on your back,
And gallop through hills and dales,
And make me feel like he makes me feel
With the wind, full blown in my sails…

Then maybe I’d take a look at you,
But you’re still tied to the earth,
Better you had four legs that flew
And a mare had given you birth.’
Then Erika laughed, and wheeled about
And galloped off in the mist,
To leave him fume at her parting jest,
A man who’d never been kissed.

His anger soon got the best of him
And he loaded his scatter-gun,
He waited out in the woods for them,
Not give them the chance to run,
He’d blow a hole in that horse’s chest
And bring it down to its knees,
Then put a shot in that horse’s head,
Not listen to Erika’s pleas.

The horse came galloping through the trees
The wind in Erika’s hair,
She laughed and sang as she rode along
Then saw de Vere standing there.
She screamed out loud as he levelled the gun
And fired point blank at the horse,
It’s blood sprayed out of its wounded chest
But still, it kept on its course.

The eyes of the stallion glowed bright red,
Its hooves bit deep in the turf,
Some demon took on the horse’s soul
As it ran its killer to earth.
The last thing ever de Vere would see,
A spot that looked like a fist,
It cracked his skull as it ran him down
And buried him deep in the mist.

Now Erika has a fine young horse,
She brought him back from the stud,
She said it had a stallion sire
That had a spot on its head.
And never will she marry a man,
She said, ‘they’re tied to the earth,
They’re all the same in the human clan
When a mare’s not given them birth.’

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Excellent tale David. Love to read your stories.

[Helen Crutchett]

Masterful, gripping and excellent poem. Your Golden Pen is churning out superb work with every poem. Adore every one......

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you David for sharing the amazing tale. I liked the story line and the characters. The ending was honest and true.
Coyote

[T.S. Sky]

Magnificent write fellow poet friend.

[Mary]

I always enjoy your narrative poems and this one is great! Saul de Vere would never have suited Erika and her stallion- both were too wild and free! Love this one and glad deVere is gone, hehe.

[Valentine]

You got me caring more for the horse than I did your tale. With my younger sister it is love her cats or you do not get her. Valentine

[D Connolly]

I hate de Vere and I'm glad he got ridden down like the scoundrel he is! I can't imagine being ok with hurting animals, and if people got to experience the pain they put our animals through, it would serve them right. My heart is beating a little faster for this one David. Right on!

[Tony Jordan]

I could never understand how anyone could hurt an animal - surely that's the sign of pure evil.
And De Vere got his comeuppance.
I knew a girl once who told me she had love for her pets and also for her plants. Love knows no bounds.
Excellent tale David. The fist-shaped marking was a piece de resistance
Most enjoyable.

[anne]

I have never seen anyone who can craft beautiful stories in verses. This one Superb.