Morning Ride

Morning Ride

Dawn breaks orange over this land
As dew on alfalfa and timothy glistens
Like a million shining diamonds,
I rein up my pony and listen.

A meadowlark trills his anthem
Across the unbreaking plain
Where day and night kiss
In sweet parting pain.

Down by the crick I ride,
A coyote visited during the night.
The same old nuisance has ranged here for years,
His crooked hind track a familiar sight.

A soporific peace settles on my shoulders
As the sun stretches his arms across the sky
Warming my chinks and thawing my heart
So I can just let go and fly.

I escape my walls of worry
And the one time my life seems clear
Is when I ride out here alone,
The world framed by a horse's ears.

A golden eagle power dives above me
Taking flight a moment before he hits the ground.
His own wings are his salvation in that last second
When there's no other savior to be found.

I knee my pony up toward the aspen stand
And he strains against the trot.
He's young and feeling frisky this morning,
Like me, wanting more than he's got.

Finally I throw my cares to the wind
And turn him loose in a stretch of pasture.
Hereford cows look on, amused I suppose,
As we push each other to go faster.

Stampede strings save my hat
And my wild rag whips my cheeks
Where the wind is bringing on tears now
But there's no stopping, stretched out and sleek

.A war whoop merits a startled look
From a doe grazing at the tree line,
But I'm in my own dimension now
And for once I feel just fine.

If we could run like this forever
You can bet we probably would,
But running never gets you anywhere
If you're not doing what you should.

My little palomino glows golden in this light
As we slow, both breathing hard,
Lathered up and quivering,
Our wild batteries recharged.

The sun is fully up now
And I've got fence to ride
But there's no feeling in this world
Like a new day caressing my hide.

Lonesome Nights

Lonesome Nights
　
The shy ears of the sage unfurl
Standing ready to hear my heart.
It’s here among the cholla and dirt
My time for reflection can start.

Burning orange across the horizon
Are the few remaining embers of day,
Slicing the landscape and the night
In the most unforgiving way.

I hear my pony cropping grass
And thank him for today’s ride.
It’s out here when we’re all alone
These feelings well up inside.

I pull the stars over me like a blanket
And my saddle’s where I lay my head.
I’d rather be out here tonight
Than facing my empty bed.

A lonesome coyote yips in the night
And is joined by a chorus on the hill.
I take in their haunting symphony
And pull my Winchester closer still.

A girl’s gotta keep her guard up
When she’s out here on her own
Because as soon as she gives in a little
She knows her weakness has shown.

I’ve had my heart broken time and again
And I’m ready to give up on love.
I guess I don’t deserve the cowboy
Who doesn’t need to push or shove.

I’m like a spooky colt now
When he reaches out his hand.
Knees quivering, eyes rimmed white
I don’t know whether to bolt or stand.

Part of me wants to take a bit,
Be corralled to a home as a wife,
But part of me still wants to run
And see what I can do in this life.

It’s on lonely nights like these
That I long for a pair or strong arms,
Someone to hold me close
And draw me in with his charms.

I want to feel his breath on my neck
And have a love that will never end.
I want to hear a deep soothing voice
But all I hear is the wind.

The coyotes keep howlin’ in my living room of sage
And stars twinkle bright overhead.
I’d still rather be out here tonight
Than facing my empty bed.