Two Horses

Two Horses

A Poem by Casey Truax

There is something in the winding of a road
That makes you wonder, even in the calm,
If you could or should have lived another way.
This one goes through a farm
And to a bridge that spans a brook.
My nebulous and pleasant thoughts are met
With honeysuckle blooming by the bank
And my heart with intimate grandeur
Rises on the hills with a big yellow moon.
I imagine there are worlds with places much like this
Where another version of myself
Might seek a consolation fit
For a different series of regrets.

Yet to be there when you needed me
Is a choice that stands above regret
And redeems the foolishness of all the rest.
There comes a time there is no longer joy
In things we love alone,
And there is no love without a sense
Of responsibility.
Knowing I can share these thoughts with you
Secures the bliss I find in solitude
Even when I do not remember.

Before I made a habit of these walks
I vaguely knew of horses on this farm.
Now I know that there are two: one black, one brown.
The brown one has a white mark between its eyes,
The kind that is called a star.
They draw near to the fence as I pass by,
Lay their heads upon the grass
Or lift their forelegs in the air.
Their grace is privilege to behold,
Their absence always marked with sadness.
Such bonds grow slowly as the roots,
As subtle and invisible
As the force that bears the moon
And holds my feet upon the road.

© 2023 Casey Truax


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Reviews

Reading this poem again, I find it very emotional and thought-provoking. There is a certain sadness in this work, which the reader can readily translate into his/her own life. A fine write!

Posted 1 Year Ago


Are you familiar with Seamus Heaney’s poetry? I felt this was a different style than what I’m used to reading from your poetry. It’s quite tender and open and like a prayer and offering at the same time. When we find someone who we are willing to give up some of ourselves for, that is transcendent. Your poem feels transcendent to me. It also feels like a sacred text opening itself and freely releasing its secrets. As though the realization has come that secrets have no meaning of they are not shared. We can hold things close but they will always only be ours. And while there’s comfort in that sense of being master of the personal destiny, there’s also a sense that maybe there’s something more we might know if we take the walk and allow the landscape to become part of us.

I love the way the speaker becomes part of the land in a sense. The backwards journey (in some respects) takes us back through the opening to a place where things were closed and shows how freeing it can be to allow the self to be worked on from the outside. I love the idea of the heart in intimate grandeur. The freedom of allowing. This is how I feel the poem.

It’s a beautiful work. I feel it rather than think it and that is a wonderful reprieve for me. A person who can hardly ever stop the thought. I enjoyed this very much. If you’re not familiar with Heaney, I think you would enjoy. This poem does put me in mind of how I feel after reading his poetry. He is my favorite poet. Great work, Casey.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Casey Truax

1 Year Ago

The voice of this one reminds me a little of the letters I used to write to my father or to my grand.. read more
Casey Truax

1 Year Ago

Post script. I had a rare chance to spend some time at the library so I found a copy of Heaney’s S.. read more
Eilis

1 Year Ago

That’s great news, I’m glad you enjoyed.
Sadly beautiful. It's a great pastoral poem. I particularly like stanza three with the natural descriptions. The horses in their glory are very much present; they live in flow in my vision. The last four lines are quite nice, ties the poem up in a bow. So, Casey Truax, great work. The only thing that I would find some fault in is in the capitalization of the first word in every line. Typically it is traditionally done when only writing in meter, but I'm not some poetry nazi, so take this with a grain of salt. Anyway......

So, my older brother is named Casey. Casey is that you? Where did you learn to write? LOL.. I' sorry, it's late. Casey, this poem is fire. Have a good night. CD



Posted 1 Year Ago


Casey Truax

1 Year Ago

Thank you for such a nice review. As for the capitalization rule that is honestly not something I ha.. read more
CD Campbell

1 Year Ago

Yeah, I didn't think so. I'm glad. There needs to be only one whiney poet in the family. Two is .. read more
I often go walking in the countryside alone, taking a camera with me. I meet several horses on some of my walks, and I think a few of them know me by now. It is good for the soul, to walk at a moderate (or even slow) pace, and take in the wonders of nature. I can certainly relate to this poem. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Posted 1 Year Ago


Love the constant landscape...and all your wondrous images..
First read of yours and i do like it...
Enjoying things with someone you care for is oh so important...
Lisa

Posted 1 Year Ago


Casey Truax

1 Year Ago

Thank you for visiting.
I was both mesmerised and engrossed by the words and images of this powerful piece of poetry. And strong solid message matching the gorgeous landscape described. I related so much to this particular line which captured me by its truth: "There comes a time there is no longer joy In things we love alone," So hauntingly true. Thank you Casey for sharing this bit of art with us all.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Casey Truax

1 Year Ago

I’m glad you found it meaningful. Thank you very much.

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Added on May 12, 2022
Last Updated on January 30, 2023
Tags: Love, pastoral


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