A Common Bond
supportive, she nickers
encouragement,
blocks perceived danger,
nips tender warning
upon youthful shoulder,
responsive.
I send mine off,
weary with backpack
deadlines looming large.
Lighten her load
I offer help,
her youthful shoulder
dismissive.
A common bond shared
this mare and I. Alas,
her sweet job's just begun
mine's run its course.
by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 2012
HERE is a site with a "streaming cam" that allows one to watch live a mare that is about to foal, foaling, or taking care of her newborn foal. I am watching my friend's horse WRosieQ and two mares at Premier Friesians Cam #1 and Premier Friesians Cam #2. It will be so fun watching WRosie give birth and she is due very soon - we thought perhaps last night.
(If you are interested in watching the steam, click on the link and cursor down and select... they are not all activated... it depends upon the foaling schedule of each farm)
The photo above is one I took of WRosie "big and prego!" and will post more once she delivers. Do any of you remember how you felt hours, days just before delivery!?
The poem is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Ella's Edge - Writing Poetry from the Inside Out". I sort of followed the rules... it is raining outside so I used the "CAM" as my outside this morning and also used what was going on "inside" my world... taking my daughter back to college this morning. (We live within 35 minutes of the school, and since she was sick, I wanted her home resting ... so I AM still needed... sometimes :)
I purposefully made this poem for Friday Flash 55. The host, G-Man of "Mr-Know-It-All" blog, is hospitalized in critical care, recovering from an operation. If others post to his blog tonight, then I will be doing so as well. I would like him to have something to read when he comes home! :) If you have ever participated in FF55, please swing by and wish Galen well!
Awww... your mare is beautiful. I just took a peek at the cam and she is standing there patiently waiting.
ReplyDeleteLoved the prose and, will be back to check out the cam again soon. Hoping G man makes a speedy recovery too.
You wove so much into this poem!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos of her and the gently way you glided us into the real view~ It was beautiful!
Well Done~
I LOVE the poem about the foal, and your daughter's dismissive shoulder (so typical, hey?), and the mother mare's job just beginning, as yours is winding down. Hate to tell you, though, a mother's job never really ends:) Hee hee.It's why we all have gray hair:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I do so love horses, have owned several and seen them give birth - always a miracle...
ReplyDeleteso beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Margaret, the photos and the poem.
ReplyDeleteK
Lovely. There are bonds between animals and humans, connections, and parallels. Your poem is one that illustrates that. I think it would be wonderful to see new life enter the world. It must be an experience that awes.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem and photograph...one mother just begins her work another's completed...
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely photograph...and of course, I can relate to the sending off the children with their backpack...But as I always say, wait till they become parents themselves ~
ReplyDeleteHappy day ~
Hope you don't mind, I put a link to your blog and to your horse Rosies cam on mine ...I'm watching on and off every few minutes. She's a beauty and, very patient. :)
ReplyDeleteMost lovely words, and amazing photos, especially the first photo, you can even see the veins so clearly!
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks for the link, I'll correct it to read your friend's horse ... I've been so fascinated watching her just do her 'thing' ...mostly eating LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm off to look at the other one...thanks!
Awwww that is so lovely !~! :)
ReplyDelete:) So So glad you like it, Daydreamertoo :)
ReplyDeleteI'm watching the cam 2 of the Friesians, that baby was being a bit rough feeding and she nudged it a couple of times ... LOL
ReplyDeleteI am sooo thrilled to be seeing these ... Wonderful :)
Hi beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteYou are living such a cool life.
Soon we will get to watch Fluffy Butt become a mom, that little devil. Waited a little too late it seems to spay. But... it'll be a great family time with those kittens.
And thanks for your pre-purchase, on my site. You are a sweetie!
So sweet of you to mention G-Man too.
xoxo
that is an incredible pic of the horses should margaret...smiles too on yours nearing completion as wll.. a mothers work is never done you know...
ReplyDeleteThere is no domestic animal that is more majestic and beautiful than a horse. tThe power and presence they posses is amazing. Great poem, and good luck on the foal! Great take on the challenge.
ReplyDeleteMares are cagey about who gets to see their babies born, cams are a great way to peek into that time with them!
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem, and while you may feel your job is done with your human 'foal' I think it is just moving to a different phase. :-)
I love how you have shown the shared motherhood between narrator and mare. This definitely captures the inner thoughts and outer events very well.
ReplyDeleteThe top image takes my breath away! OMG.
ReplyDelete