SADDLE SORE

Amid the heat and flies an old friend dies

SADDLE SORE

 

He`s slowen down some

That was quite a run

Swet`n bad

Pull up old friend

I think our day has come

 

Get over in the shade old hoss

I`ll git that saddle off

You must be half sick

Let me scrape that sweat and froth

 

Look at that

That big old saddle sore

Now how long you had that old friend

Aint there never any end

 

That`s good lay down there in the shade

Down the gulley I`ll find something wet

You`ll be better old friend

I`ll get you feel`n better yet

 

Here take this grass it`l make you strong

Dang it how could I have pushed so hard

I`ve really done you wrong

Don`t stop breath`n yet

Let me take my shirt and rub the sweat

 

Oh my God old friend please don`t go now

I should have known  better you aint young

C`mon pal breathe for me

Cuss them damn buzzards in the trees

Goodbye friend

This is just the bitter end

-----Eagle Cruagh

Reviews

[x]

A sad write that utterly captures the essence of loyalty and respect in the relationship between a man and his horse. This write must have been a very difficult one to do, given that the horse was pushed to its end but in relating the story, homage is delivered to the horse with the description of it's enduring loyalty despite the pain it must have been suffering.
I give the write full marks for courage and honesty.

[Tracie Skarbo]

Damn I didn't want the horse to die, but I suppose nither did the rider. I liked the way you have left off the ing off of some of the words. It made it more like dialogue for me and gave it a swift steady feel to it. I like the way you have brought the friendship into the equation as well. I know there is an attatchment bettween man and dog but I have a feeling that the attatchment bettween a man and his horse would be much stronger, and not only because horses live longer. I wonder what the rider feels about his own mortality at this time.

Great Job

Tigra

[Jinx's Heart]

Your imagery is profound and just touches my heart. I'm a horse person and it just touches my heart how this poem was written about an animal that would go forever for his human without any complaint. However, I also see this as, possibly a poem about people over working themselves to the point of destruction. I love this versatile poem. Well done! :)

[Creepy Swine Guy]

Your work shows me what a strong connection you have to living things, to the things that too many men don't respect as living things ... just like you and I. There is always a sensitivity in your words that touches me.

[Sheila Kline]

The Horse obeys its master and keeps working until it has met its end....the master is full of sorrow that he has pushed his beloved friend to the end, so he valiently tries to revive and save it, but alas it is too late.
Your write is full of compassion and shows the deep bond between man and animal.
Very nice!

[Sabine]

The subject-- the bond between an animal and a human is so truely portrayed by your poem. The tactile images constrast with more transcendental idea of departing. The kind-hearted voice of the narration carries the (dear friend)with reciprocity to a rite of passage as only a bond such as that can do.
The last line,
This is just the bitter end.

...speaks metaphorically envoking the saddle sore as physical pain, tempered by the long enduring bond of friendship. Blessings, Sabine*