Inches

The fact that we're alive is an improbable thing.

My father told me a story once,

of how he trained show horses.

Fancy, fancy horses.

Expensive horses,

no ten and a penny horses here.

And he also told me,

how he was shoeing one day,

an archaic thing,

that must be done,

because we cannot ask,

for a horse’s hoof,

to tread where we,

have planted concrete.

And he told me also,

how one foal kicked;

kicked hard and wide,

and cleared his skull,

by inches.

And he told me,

that if it had been closer,

had connected with his brain,

it would have dropped him,

clunk

like a horseshoe.

And then I realized…

I owe my life to many chances.

Many miracles.

But when you come down to it,

I owe my life to a mare,

who missed my father,

by inches.

 

Reviews

[John Anderson]

very well done...i enjoyed this very much

[Jennifer Johnston]

Thanks for reading!