New poem

I got the idea from this by seeing a picture of a couple older guys setting together at a branding and also from watching these seemingly old, fat men and horses doing more work than the younger set! With less fuss and muss!

Old and fat?

Pot bellied men on grass bellied horses
rein chains swing to and fro
an unnoticed signal causes the horse to collect
neck arched like a full drawn bow

men are weathered and aged like the very best wine
and the bourbon that’s the favored drink
their minds are clear, ideas resolved
past even the need to think

of every move that must be made
in this equine, bovine dance
man and horse move together as one
with intent not only by chance

it’s as if they move from instinct alone
and perhaps at times they do
they look half asleep in mid morning glare
yet explode when they get the cue

the bovine erupts in a frenzied feint
hoping she might just get away
gracefully they counter her every move
not so much work as play

as you look on them you will likely take note
they are svelte, not really fat
them geezers grin on them tooled leather thrones
‘neath the shade of a wide brimmed hat

Robert Dennis May, 2010