Tuesday, December 21, 2010

"Our Pony", a poem





Our Pony
Softness of heart
Velvet her name,
she of shaggy coat, gentle gaze.
Her short legs worked overtime
in front of the pack, 
the lead she always maintained.
One blue eye, one brown, 
always cautious, watchful 
babysitter on many 
a rambunctious day.
Summer mornings,  
off we went, field eagerly crossed, 
sister and I securely upon her back.
Traversing up and down quarry 
through tall cornfield 
and railroad tracks
wading along river bank, 
or forest trail;
aware of the way home, 
she always led us back.
Until the day our feet 
nearly dragged the ground
we knew our journeys 
had come to an end.
With joy I must admit 
we welcomed a bigger horse,
one eager to explore 
and take us away, fast.
From behind the fence 
we heard her indignant cry 
of being left behind.  
Never again 
did she join the pack, 
no leader she,
Resigned to wait 
until we returned.
She cared for us 
when we were small,
watched us outgrow her.  
We brushed and petted,
walked her by lead,
the big horse 
eventually moved on,
but she was family, 
beloved and cherished, 
she remained.

by Margaret Bednar

This poem is for Poetry Potluck, this weeks theme: Reflection   

The top is a photo of my sister and me with our pony, Velvet.  I am standing and my sister has our dog, Sugar in her lap.  Looking at this picture it both seems so long ago AND like it was yesterday... how can that be?  Well, as I fight the lump in my throat, I can look back and say how lucky we were to grow up in an "innocent" time when we kids didn't worry about being out ALL day, wandering around the countryside, only coming home when we were either hungry or it was starting to get dark.  And our pony was usually with us!  My horse was beloved too.  But when we moved out of the house and got our own apartments, he was sold.  My mom refused to part with Velvet - she said a better caretaker of her children she could never have found!  



This is me in my "beloved" (not really) polyester green 4-H outfit.  Velvet was a great little pony, always well liked by the judges.  She brought home the blue ribbon for both of us this day.  She knew her leads and trotted along so slowly.  Tucked her head in nicely when asked to back up.  Horse shows were not my "thing", though.  My sister, to this day does raise horses and shows them professionally (give me trail riding any day!).  Maybe I would have felt differently if I had been given a better outfit...  :)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

A truly wonderful trail of love and warmth, thanks for sharing.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

fabulous...
pony is handsome, you and your sister are pretty cute...
elegant entry,
A++

Ginnie Hart said...

The things we remember, Margaret, must be the important things of our lives. Look how it still brings a lump to your throat! It's clear to me you knew what you were doing and enjoyed it...even if it was your sister who pursued the passion.

Lisa Gordon said...

Margaret - This is truly beautiful.

Ruth said...

Blue ribbon Velvet must have been quite a dear friend. It's sweet how she took care of you. Aren't memories like this so wonderful?

Carol Blackburn said...

Great post, Margaret. We had a pony named Ginger for a short while. She was mean and nasty and threw the cart and everybody in a heap. LOL, I do have some cute photos of my children sitting on her though with their grandmother holding the pony still.

Jamia Gilbert said...

What a wonderful poem and post, Margaret.

Kathe W. said...

what a lovely tale to read this morning- I too had a glorious carefree childhood- weren't we the llucky ones!

Unknown said...

I had a horse that was just exactly like you poem. Growing up I always had several horse around but Barney was the fav, a welsh pony but a heart of a thoroughbred.

Vicki Lane said...

I am polyester green with envy. I spent most of my childhood longing for a pony!

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Margaret said...

I want to thank all of you for enjoying my poem about my pony. It was truly from my heart.