THE LAST BASTION OF WILD AMERICA, WHERE FREEDOM RUNS IN OBLIVIOUS HERDS, I CROSS THE PLAINS OF THE NEVADA WILDERNESS. DESERT OASIS SHIMMERING LIKE JEWELS IN KING HEROD'S CHEST.
I SEE HER BURST THROUGH THE SCRUB BRUSH AND TUMBLEWEEDS IN DIRECT CONTRAST TO THE MAGNIFICENT BEAUTY OF HERSELF. THIS FILLY SO FULL OF HERSELF ALL BLUFF AND BLUSTER. NOSTRILS FLAIR, DARK MANE FLYING IN ALL DIRECTIONS. HOOVES BEAT DOWN THE TRODDEN DESERT FLOOR, KICKING UP DUST DEVILS LIKE THE DEVIL HIMSELF WAS AFTER HER.
SHE STOPS ALL FOURS IN FRONT OF HER. SHE SEES ME. LIFTS HER HEAD AND CONSIDERS ME. THE SWEAT ROLLING DOWN HER WITHERS IN SHEETS OF EQUINE RAIN. THE SMELL OF WILD RAW POWER SURROUNDS MY SENSES AS I STARE IN SILENT WONDER OF HER.
BLINK AND SHES GONE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE JUST A MOMENT IN TIME WHEN MY MIND SEES WHAT MY HEART HAS ALWAYS WANTED. AN EXPRESSION OF TRUST FROM SOMETHING MUCH LARGER THAN I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND.
SHE HEARS THE RINGING SHOTS OF THE BLM COPTERS IN HER EARS AS SHE WATCHES ME. SHE SEES HER BROTHERS FALL ALL AROUND HER. THE MEMORY OF THAT DAY STILL AS VIVID AS THE MORNINGS SUNRISE. THE COLORS OF THE SUN RUNNING INTO THE RIVERS OF HER FAMILIES BLOOD. THE THRUMMING OF MY OLD TRUCKS V8 ENGINE SOUNDING LIKE THE ROTOR BLADES OF DEATH ABOVE. SHE SHAKES IT OFF AND TURNS INTO A BOLT OF HORIZONTAL LIGHTNING.
THE STARS OF NIGHT GLITTERY IN SERPENTINE PATTERNS OVER THE VAST EXPANSE OF HORIZON. ONLY THE HILLS TO SHOW OUTLINE DEFINING THE BEGINNING OF THE HEAVENS. MY CAMPFIRE STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB AGAINST THIS BACKDROP. IT IS A BEACON TO THE SCORPIONS AS I WATCH THEIR KAMIKAZE DANCE INTO THE RING.
I DREAM OF HER. SHE IS HOME WITH ME ON HER OWN 5 ACRES OF PLAYGROUND. I SIT AMONGST THE WILDFLOWERS IN THE SHADE OF A LARGE POPLAR. WATCHING HER ROLL IN THE MUSTARD WEED AND LUPINE. SINEWY MUSCLE ALONG HER CALVES & A SMALL WHITE STAR ON HER CHEST. SHE IS IN BLISS AMONGST THE BEES & GRASS BLADES THAT TICKLE HER NOSE.
I SPEAK LOW TO HER. SHE EYES ME WITH INTEREST. I APPROACH HER SLOWLY GIVING HER ROOM TO RISE AND BOLT IF NECESSARY. SHE STILL EQUATES ME WITH "THAT NOISE" THOUGH BY NOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME BRIDGE TO TRUST. OFFERING HER MY PALM, FINGERS CLOSE TOGETHER, SHE CONTEMPLATES WHAT MY OFFERING MIGHT BE. IT IS NOT IN MY PALM BUT IN MY HEART.
I WAKE TO EMBERS GLOWING AND A COYOTE SONG NOT TOO FAR AWAY. THERE IS FRESH HOOF PRINTS IN MY CAMP. TRACING THEM WITH A FINGER AND LOOKING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE I CAN JUST BARELY MAKE OUT HER HERD. GRAZING PEACEFULLY ON THE DRIED WILD ALFALFA. I AM HERE FOR THIS. THIS SERENITY. THIS QUIET CONTENTEDNESS OF SOUL. I AM HAPPY TO JUST BE AN OBSERVER OF WHAT AMOUNTS TO THE MOST AMAZING GRACE ONES SPIRIT WILL EVER SEE.
THE FACT SHE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO COME INTO CAMP RENEWS MY OWN RESERVATIONS ABOUT BEING HERE AT ALL. TALKING MORE TO THE COTTONTAILS THAN MYSELF, I TELL THEM SHE WILL ONE DAY UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL DO HER NO HARM. IT MAY BE AFTER OUR DEATHS. WE MAY ONLY MEET IN OUR DREAMS, BUT THERE SHE WILL SEE MY TRUE HEART AND I HERS.
I CAN NEVER FULLY UNDERSTAND HER STRIFE. WHAT HER LIFE MUST BE LIKE. HOW HER MIND MUST CHANGE IN AN INSTANT FOR SURVIVAL. HOW SHE CAN BE PLAYFUL IN ONE MOMENT AND TERROR STRICKEN THE NEXT. THE WILD WILL NEVER BE TAKEN OUT OF HER. NORE WOULD I EVER WANT IT TO BE.
SETTING OFF ON A HIKE OVER THE PAINTED DESERT ROCK OUTCROPPINGS, MY CAMERA SWINGING BETWEEN MY BREASTS. HOPING TO SEE THEM BELOW IN THE SMALL BOX CANYON WHERE THE WATERING HOLE OF MAN MADE PROVISIONS SUSTAINS THEM. I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED. THE HERD IS ABOUT 30 IN ALL. TAILS SWISHING LONGER THAN ANY TAME PONY I HAVE MET, MY CAMERA CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF MAGNIFICENT POWER ON FILM. SHE IS NOT AMONG THEM. WORRY SETS IN. "WHAT IFS" COME FASTER THAN I CAN THINK. THE CLICK OF CAMERA SHUTTERS SPEED SLOWER THAN MY THOUGHTS.
UPON RETURNING TO CAMP, SWEAT POOLING IN CREVICES I HADN'T REALIZED I HAD... I AM GREETED WITH A PICTURE OF INCREDIBLE AMUSEMENT. THERE SHE IS. HEAD STUFFED THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY OLD TRUCKS PASSENGER SIDE. INHALING THE SCENT OF MY ESSENCE AND RED VINYL. "AHHH MY SWEET GIRL WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?" I STOP AND SIT CROSS LEGGED IN THE SAND. SHE HEARS ME. I KNOW SHE DOES. BUT SOMEHOW THE SCENT OF MY TRUCK AND THE CAMP HAS REASSURED HER. THERE IS NONE OF HER FAMILIES BLOOD SPILLED HERE OR THE SMELL OF POWDER BURNS. I AM 20 YARDS AWAY.
SHE PULLS HER HEAD OUT AND STARES. SNORTING IN DEFIANCE. PAWING AT THE SAND. MY VOICE CALM, I SPEAK TO HER. IT IS THEN I NOTICE THE SMALL STAR IN MY DREAM IS ACTUALLY A DEEP SCAR ON HER CHEST. THE WOUND CARRIES ALL THE TRAGEDY OF HER LIFE. LIKE A PALM READER I FOLLOW THE VEINS BULGING IN HER NECK. BRIGHT EYES, DEEP WITH WISDOM. SHE COMES CLOSER... AND I ASK HER TO TRUST ME. SHE SPOOKS. WHICH IN TURN SCARES ME. SHE IS GONE AND I AM ALONE AGAIN.
THAT NIGHT SHE RETURNS TO MY DREAMS ONCE MORE. TO THAT PERFECT PLACE WHERE FEAR DOES NOT EXIST. WHERE WE BOTH SPEAK EACH OTHERS LANGUAGE. WHERE BLOOD NEVER FLOWS AND SCARS ARE STARS. I MOUNT HER BAREBACK. LEGS SPREAD WIDE WITH MY ARMS AROUND HER NECK. RESTING MY HEAD AGAINST HER MANE SOFTLY BRUSHING MY CHEEK. FEELING EUPHORIC AND IN TUNE. I WHISPER HER NAME....
I SEE HER BURST THROUGH THE SCRUB BRUSH AND TUMBLEWEEDS IN DIRECT CONTRAST TO THE MAGNIFICENT BEAUTY OF HERSELF. THIS FILLY SO FULL OF HERSELF ALL BLUFF AND BLUSTER. NOSTRILS FLAIR, DARK MANE FLYING IN ALL DIRECTIONS. HOOVES BEAT DOWN THE TRODDEN DESERT FLOOR, KICKING UP DUST DEVILS LIKE THE DEVIL HIMSELF WAS AFTER HER.
SHE STOPS ALL FOURS IN FRONT OF HER. SHE SEES ME. LIFTS HER HEAD AND CONSIDERS ME. THE SWEAT ROLLING DOWN HER WITHERS IN SHEETS OF EQUINE RAIN. THE SMELL OF WILD RAW POWER SURROUNDS MY SENSES AS I STARE IN SILENT WONDER OF HER.
BLINK AND SHES GONE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE JUST A MOMENT IN TIME WHEN MY MIND SEES WHAT MY HEART HAS ALWAYS WANTED. AN EXPRESSION OF TRUST FROM SOMETHING MUCH LARGER THAN I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND.
SHE HEARS THE RINGING SHOTS OF THE BLM COPTERS IN HER EARS AS SHE WATCHES ME. SHE SEES HER BROTHERS FALL ALL AROUND HER. THE MEMORY OF THAT DAY STILL AS VIVID AS THE MORNINGS SUNRISE. THE COLORS OF THE SUN RUNNING INTO THE RIVERS OF HER FAMILIES BLOOD. THE THRUMMING OF MY OLD TRUCKS V8 ENGINE SOUNDING LIKE THE ROTOR BLADES OF DEATH ABOVE. SHE SHAKES IT OFF AND TURNS INTO A BOLT OF HORIZONTAL LIGHTNING.
THE STARS OF NIGHT GLITTERY IN SERPENTINE PATTERNS OVER THE VAST EXPANSE OF HORIZON. ONLY THE HILLS TO SHOW OUTLINE DEFINING THE BEGINNING OF THE HEAVENS. MY CAMPFIRE STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB AGAINST THIS BACKDROP. IT IS A BEACON TO THE SCORPIONS AS I WATCH THEIR KAMIKAZE DANCE INTO THE RING.
I DREAM OF HER. SHE IS HOME WITH ME ON HER OWN 5 ACRES OF PLAYGROUND. I SIT AMONGST THE WILDFLOWERS IN THE SHADE OF A LARGE POPLAR. WATCHING HER ROLL IN THE MUSTARD WEED AND LUPINE. SINEWY MUSCLE ALONG HER CALVES & A SMALL WHITE STAR ON HER CHEST. SHE IS IN BLISS AMONGST THE BEES & GRASS BLADES THAT TICKLE HER NOSE.
I SPEAK LOW TO HER. SHE EYES ME WITH INTEREST. I APPROACH HER SLOWLY GIVING HER ROOM TO RISE AND BOLT IF NECESSARY. SHE STILL EQUATES ME WITH "THAT NOISE" THOUGH BY NOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME BRIDGE TO TRUST. OFFERING HER MY PALM, FINGERS CLOSE TOGETHER, SHE CONTEMPLATES WHAT MY OFFERING MIGHT BE. IT IS NOT IN MY PALM BUT IN MY HEART.
I WAKE TO EMBERS GLOWING AND A COYOTE SONG NOT TOO FAR AWAY. THERE IS FRESH HOOF PRINTS IN MY CAMP. TRACING THEM WITH A FINGER AND LOOKING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE I CAN JUST BARELY MAKE OUT HER HERD. GRAZING PEACEFULLY ON THE DRIED WILD ALFALFA. I AM HERE FOR THIS. THIS SERENITY. THIS QUIET CONTENTEDNESS OF SOUL. I AM HAPPY TO JUST BE AN OBSERVER OF WHAT AMOUNTS TO THE MOST AMAZING GRACE ONES SPIRIT WILL EVER SEE.
THE FACT SHE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO COME INTO CAMP RENEWS MY OWN RESERVATIONS ABOUT BEING HERE AT ALL. TALKING MORE TO THE COTTONTAILS THAN MYSELF, I TELL THEM SHE WILL ONE DAY UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL DO HER NO HARM. IT MAY BE AFTER OUR DEATHS. WE MAY ONLY MEET IN OUR DREAMS, BUT THERE SHE WILL SEE MY TRUE HEART AND I HERS.
I CAN NEVER FULLY UNDERSTAND HER STRIFE. WHAT HER LIFE MUST BE LIKE. HOW HER MIND MUST CHANGE IN AN INSTANT FOR SURVIVAL. HOW SHE CAN BE PLAYFUL IN ONE MOMENT AND TERROR STRICKEN THE NEXT. THE WILD WILL NEVER BE TAKEN OUT OF HER. NORE WOULD I EVER WANT IT TO BE.
SETTING OFF ON A HIKE OVER THE PAINTED DESERT ROCK OUTCROPPINGS, MY CAMERA SWINGING BETWEEN MY BREASTS. HOPING TO SEE THEM BELOW IN THE SMALL BOX CANYON WHERE THE WATERING HOLE OF MAN MADE PROVISIONS SUSTAINS THEM. I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED. THE HERD IS ABOUT 30 IN ALL. TAILS SWISHING LONGER THAN ANY TAME PONY I HAVE MET, MY CAMERA CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF MAGNIFICENT POWER ON FILM. SHE IS NOT AMONG THEM. WORRY SETS IN. "WHAT IFS" COME FASTER THAN I CAN THINK. THE CLICK OF CAMERA SHUTTERS SPEED SLOWER THAN MY THOUGHTS.
UPON RETURNING TO CAMP, SWEAT POOLING IN CREVICES I HADN'T REALIZED I HAD... I AM GREETED WITH A PICTURE OF INCREDIBLE AMUSEMENT. THERE SHE IS. HEAD STUFFED THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY OLD TRUCKS PASSENGER SIDE. INHALING THE SCENT OF MY ESSENCE AND RED VINYL. "AHHH MY SWEET GIRL WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?" I STOP AND SIT CROSS LEGGED IN THE SAND. SHE HEARS ME. I KNOW SHE DOES. BUT SOMEHOW THE SCENT OF MY TRUCK AND THE CAMP HAS REASSURED HER. THERE IS NONE OF HER FAMILIES BLOOD SPILLED HERE OR THE SMELL OF POWDER BURNS. I AM 20 YARDS AWAY.
SHE PULLS HER HEAD OUT AND STARES. SNORTING IN DEFIANCE. PAWING AT THE SAND. MY VOICE CALM, I SPEAK TO HER. IT IS THEN I NOTICE THE SMALL STAR IN MY DREAM IS ACTUALLY A DEEP SCAR ON HER CHEST. THE WOUND CARRIES ALL THE TRAGEDY OF HER LIFE. LIKE A PALM READER I FOLLOW THE VEINS BULGING IN HER NECK. BRIGHT EYES, DEEP WITH WISDOM. SHE COMES CLOSER... AND I ASK HER TO TRUST ME. SHE SPOOKS. WHICH IN TURN SCARES ME. SHE IS GONE AND I AM ALONE AGAIN.
THAT NIGHT SHE RETURNS TO MY DREAMS ONCE MORE. TO THAT PERFECT PLACE WHERE FEAR DOES NOT EXIST. WHERE WE BOTH SPEAK EACH OTHERS LANGUAGE. WHERE BLOOD NEVER FLOWS AND SCARS ARE STARS. I MOUNT HER BAREBACK. LEGS SPREAD WIDE WITH MY ARMS AROUND HER NECK. RESTING MY HEAD AGAINST HER MANE SOFTLY BRUSHING MY CHEEK. FEELING EUPHORIC AND IN TUNE. I WHISPER HER NAME....
7/14/09
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