LASSIE

LASSIE

"big black and white tobiano morab,
for kids, lassie was fun to ride bareback...
however,
with a saddle and an adult
she exploded like a rodeo bronk
straight up in the air
back down stiff legged
knocking the air right out of you...
how i loved watching my mom laugh,
when her friend, jessie ’s
“ I am man, I can ride anything” boyfriend
landed on his a*s in the manure pile,
and,
 then he broke the "cowboy golden rule",
he wouldn’t get back on,
so mom, 8 months gone
with my brother wes,
had to climb on and ride lassie...
the next day jessie was
 all black and blue,
and mom explained,
jesse's boyfriend often beat her...
mom said,
” he should have landed on his head,
in the s**t ,it might have done him some good, ”
mom never used that kind of language,
and i never forgot
sometimes, men beat women for pleasure...

Reviews

[....................]

it does take a look back sometimes to realize just how terrible people were and how difficult it was for those who had to live with them...you masterfully weave such a horrid topic with comic relief as no one else can...i'm with your mom here...sad but beautifully written...

[jeannemarie coulter]

i am sure when mom let that guy ride lassie she had a very different lesson in mind than the one i learned...odd how that happens in life...thank you ...

[....................]

You are welcome, JM!

[Coyote Poetry]

A honest tale my Poet friend. We learn things with age and surrounding. I like the ending. Left the reader with something to think about. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you for the kind words, she was a fine horse...

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome. Horses are very cool.

[Emily]

I love when you do poems like this!
Lassie is such a cute name!
Keep it up!

[dan]

I didn't see that sudden twist in the end coming; it is an indicator, however, of how the spectre of domestic violence can appear in the most normal surroundings, out of the blue. Even though domestic abuse is still a major societal problem at least the laws have been strengthened to attempt to rein it in somewhat. I always thank God that I was raised the right way and taught how wrong the practice is. Very powerful, jeannemarie! take care...dan

[Gee]

A great tale with a surprise ending,enjoyed reading your work

[~]

Haunting memories mixed with deep cutting humor.
what a shame to carry such dread..
poignant as always!

[jeannemarie coulter]

strange how we learn...how the lesson we learn can reall have little to do with what we were actually doing at the time we learned...

[Perkele.7885]

Sometimes, I am ashamed to be a man because of what my so called brethren do. To beat someone else for pleasure is not something that one should need to do(man or woman). That is not to say that one should not defend one' self against a man or a female attacker until you have achieved the upper-hand and can bring the fisticuffs to a close.