Friday, December 12, 2008

The Big Shake: where do horses go to die?

[link to the BIG SHAKE for context]

***

some say,

we backed the wrong horse

drove an economy until it fell

spent its energy on market strength


stoked the fires until they roared

lusted for an industrial wage

raped the produce of our lands

whipped the horse until it bled

with no thought of tomorrow


or the poor souls who follow.


and now,

the horse has left the barn

and terribly scarred by feverish appetites

has disappeared past the darkest hills.


tell me,

where do horses go to die?


where do horses go to die?


gah

.

4 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 12, 2008 at 7:40 AM

    Um, somewhere in Texas into a community that up until 2000 was white only? Is that the right answer? lol

    Oh, and I left you an award over at my place if you're interested.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cheryl McLeanDecember 12, 2008 at 10:25 AM

    Gord this is a touching poem that
    educates us all while telling a story
    through your metaphor. It makes me want to pick up a pen and add a hopeful line...something about passionate horses never die, they are born again as unicorns and live in a place where each horse is valued for their beauty and uniqueness. They live again in the place where ideas are born brilliant, kicking new ideas...
    it's the old boys that were whipping the horses, driving them backward, they are the
    ones who will end up at the glue factories.

    doubledouble friend from the Roaster

    ReplyDelete
  3. G. HarrisonDecember 12, 2008 at 11:21 AM

    hi sheila,

    thank you for the kind nod. friday is rough draft day, new column due tomorrow, so I hope i can take a peek later.

    cheers,

    gh

    ReplyDelete
  4. G. HarrisonDecember 12, 2008 at 11:24 AM

    greetings cheryl,

    thanks for your considered comments.

    you're right, there could be a part two, re another horse or more.

    maybe I need to put legs on some new ideas.

    i'll get back to you.

    cheers,

    gord

    ReplyDelete