Truly Speakin’
The ol’ paint mare maybe ain’t what she was,
And showin’ her age in most everything she does.
She’s all hair’d up before the first winter’s snow,
And a bit stiff behind, but it don’t hardly much show.
There’s somethin’ to be said ‘bout a horse gettin’ old,
A trustworthy mount is worth every penny her weight in gold.
Like her, I take in stride the days when my bones go to achin’,
Turnin’ a blind eye, as if I hadn’t noticed my youths been taken.
She’s good fer a roll, but it’s just once over, ‘nstead of again and again,
An’ as fer me, I still get my kicks, but these days it’s just now and then.
I used to sleep in, now I’m up with the chickens most every single day,
An’ that paints’ still down while the colts run the fence hollerin’ for hay.
I may turn in early feelin’ all wored out, and sometimes wake up stiff and sore,
But truly speakin’ I ain’t much good at admittin’ some work ain’t so easy anymore.
That mares’ in a bar shoe and her hocks are creaky, but she’s travelin’ sound,
Perhaps our usefulness is the wisdom we can share on a new trail ain’t yet found.
Truly Speakin’©2009
From her upcoming book Trail of Trials – A Collection of Western Folk Poetry
amyichi@yahoo.com
You hit the nail on the head…as always, reading your poetry is joy.