25 MAY 2001

TODAY I RODE A HORSE

TODAY I RODE A HORSE,

A HORSE THAT FILLED ME WITH CONFIDENCE.

A HORSE THAT MADE ME FEEL ALL THE THINGS I HAVE WISHED

FROM ALL THE HORSES I HAVE RIDDEN IN MY LIFE.

TODAY I RODE A HORSE WHO MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL,

MORE SPECIAL THAN I HAVE EVER FELT ON A HORSE.

A HORSE THAT WAS ALL HORSE WHILE HE HELD ME ON HIS BACK,

BUT GAVE ME OF HIMSELF, GAVE IN TO MY HUMBLE DEMANDS,

AND IN GIVING OF HIMSELF FILLED ME.

TODAY I RODE A HORSE THAT WAS ALL I HAVE DREAMED OF SINCE

I WAS ONLY FOUR AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THE HORSE.

A HORSE THAT WHILE RESPONDING TO ME,

WAS MORE HORSE THAN I HAVE EVER RIDDEN.

A HORSE THAT WAS THE DREAM OF HORSEMEN FOR CENTURIES

AND YET LIVES ON TODAY FOR ME TO RIDE.

TODAY I RODE A HORSE THAT I HAVE SEEN IN PAINTINGS,

HEARD OF IN LEGENDS.

A HORSE THAT FILLS THE LEGS, HANDS AND SOUL OF THE RIDER,

TODAY I FELT A COMMUNION WITH THE CENTURIES

AND ALL THE HORSEMEN OF THEN AND NOW.

TODAY I RODE A HORSE THE COLOR OF MILK FLOWING,

WITH THE FORCE OF AN OVER FLOWING DAM,

FILLING ME WITH THE POWER GENERATED WITHIN.

A HORSE SEEN IN ALL THE GREAT STATUES SCULPTED,

READ ABOUT IN ALL THE GREAT BOOKS WRITTEN.

TODAY I RODE A HORSE THAT HOURS LATER

STILL FILLS ME TO OVERFLOWING,

FLOWING ONTO THIS PAGE FOR YOU TO IMAGINE,

A HUGE HORSE, A GREAT HORSE, A GREY HORSE,

A SPANISH HORSE.

TODAY I RODE A HORSE !

This poem was written by Bonnie J. Bishop while in Spain, and having ridden a Spanish Stallion, went home and wrote this in one sittling.  (C) May 25 2001