The Pair

The Pair

Ponies No. 3 & 4

I lay upon my bed
Wrapped in a soft patchwork quilt
Shrouded by the eerie darkness of night
Waiting for sleep to come.

Now I'm hastily grabbing a bag of baby carrots from the fridge
And sneaking out the back door, taking the steps two at a time.
I jog across the country yard, then slow to a sneaky gait
As I approach the home pasture.

Leaning on a fencepost,
I look for the horse I know will be within.
I see a little, sturdy dun pony grazing absent-mindedly
As her sorrel horse colt frolicks.
He gallops short bursts on his skinny, unsteady legs.
He rolls in the grass, tosses his mane
Noses at and tastes everything.

I laugh silently, then whistle shrilly.
The dun mare jerks her head up.
The colt comes galloping over
Alone, unafraid, and glossy with new life.
He stands face to face with me,
Tail plumed, neck arched, ears held alert,
Hung about with the flags of a young stallion.

"Why, welcome to Baby Heart Ranch,
Royal King!
Come on now Sandy,
Keep your motherly eye on that little one!"

Sandy finally trots over and accepts a carrot.
As I feel the hot breath of the spirited young colt on my palm
And listen to Sandy's noisy crunch-crunch
I let my daydreams carry me away
To years in the future
When many will admire the thickness of Royal Banner's neck
The power in his chest and the alertness in his face,
The pluming of his tail and arch of his neck.

I dream of him as the stallion and sire
Of a whole string of fast and beautiful riding ponies.

I decided then and there:
Royal King must never know early separation from his
mother,
Must never know the saddle and bit,
Must never know the feel of harness and whip,
Must never know the frustration of blinders and checkrein,
He will be one fortunate pony.
He will run Baby Heart Ranch with me.

I turn to go tell everyone of my decision
When I hear a soft, faraway nicker.
"See you later!" it said.
I suddenly realize that Royal King's hot breath has grown cold.

The eerie darkness and soft bed return
As I stare at the fast-fading images
Of my dreampony with her little one.

I contentedly turn over.
The dreampony spirit lingers
And I fall into a deep, restful sleep.