A Springtime Day

[Irene]

A Springtime Day

© Irene Conner
12/06/07

How great to feel the freedom as I sit upon your back
and wander in our solitude along a bushland track.
How great to feel the gentle breeze that ruffles through my hair;
experience the unity that man and horse can share.

We wander through the gumtrees under canopies of shade
and see again the beauty of this peaceful bushland glade.
We feel the lazy languor of a perfect springtime day
and marvel at the animals that venture out to play.

Our presence makes the little birds commence their joyful song
so we enjoy their music as we slowly walk along.
We see a burst of colour as they flit between the leaves;
enjoy their graceful beauty as they frolic on the breeze.

The crickets add their voices to the chorus of the land
as horses hooves add drumbeat to the sound of natures band.
We hear a sudden rustle in the bush beside the track –
it mingles with the jingle of the metal on our tack.

We reach an open paddock and your ears begin to flick -
I feel your muscles ready as you ask me to be quick.
It only takes the slightest squeeze to tell you 'you can go' -
we race across the paddocks and I feel your strength below.

I see your mighty muscles as they ripple and contract
and still I know my lightest touch will cause you to react.
I revel in the thunder as your hooves race o’er the ground
and add my shout of pleasure to the echoes all around.

With joy we gallop freely with the sun upon our back,
the wind beneath your flying hooves, the bridle rein left slack.
There’s beauty in the scenes that flash before our happy eyes
and somewhere in the distant sky a lonely cocky cries.

[Bernard de Silva]

'Morning Irene,
                   wish I still lived in the bush...I wake to the sounds of traffic and at the moment, roadworks.
The highway upgrade though suburbia has been disrupted by rain...a case of lay the gravel fill, then dig it all out again and fix all the soft spots the compactor brought to surface, then fill it in again  for the surfacing. Problem is it looks like it's about to start raining again...it's around our annual 'show' time so it's a moral it'll start pouring...
                    Good to read your fine poem...transports me back to the bush...
                                                            Thanks,
                                                                    Bernie.

[zondrae]

morning Irene,

I lingered in my nice warm bed til 7.30 and then got up to find this waiting to be read. What a lovely way to start the day. And here in beautiful Wollongong, it is raining. Not that wild pounding stuff that runs away in a rush, but the heavy drizzle that soaks the earth and really does some good. The best bit is that it is falling over the catchment area. (ssshhh don't say it out loud) Thanks for the tour of the bush, even though horses were involved. (I'm a bit afraid of very large animals) Thank you for sharing.

[tomchap]

Loved it all Irene - thanks.
The memories of the surging power of the animal beneath, wind rushing through your hair etc. - just great.

And it's been freezing cold here in Tamworth, so the spring bit is really nice to think about.

Zondrae, you'll just have to get to know a horse somehow - don't stay deprived all your life.

Cheers
Tom.

[RonB.]

 G'day Irene,
                 Well done, you certainly captured the spirit of freedom on horseback.
 The only way I get the wind in the face is on two wheels, a bit louder but great fun!
 A nice poem,
  Cheers
   Ron.

[zondrae]

Hi Tom,

I did have a friend with a jack Donkey named 'Jill' (just for confusion) that I rode a few times. I even learned how to put its bridle and saddle on. But it's not my 'cup of tea'. I can't ride a bicycle either. I've tried. and I swim like a rock....mmmm..am I sure I'm an Aussie?

[Bernard de Silva]

And I don't want a pickle...just want to ride on a 'motor sickle'...

[therese]

what a wonderful way to spend the day irene.  thanks for the delightful write

[James]

That was a good one Irene I could picture it, very enjoyable James

[Duncan Williams.]

Well put together....  a very nice piece of verse. enjoyed greatly.   Duncan.

[Irene]

HI all
Wouldn't you know it? I posted that poem that evening - it had been a warm, fine day, and that night, the stars were out, with only a couple of light clouds - but in the morning, it was raining. As the rain is very much needed over here, I have decided that I need to write some more poetry about spring so it will rain again!!!!!  (We didn't get the heavy soaking rain like you Zondrae!) 

How can you heathens prefer the horsepower of two wheeled transport, when you can have real horsepower beneath you?!?  Just no comparison - and we don't have to wear a helmet to block out that wonderful feeling of the wind in your hair!!!    (Mind you, I do have to confess that I wear a helmet - left over habit from always making sure my kids wore them!!!)

Glad it brightened your day.

Catchya
IRene

[RonB.]

 G'day Irene'
                Heathens! Struth I'd better get a horse!
     Ah yes, always pays to wear that bash hat, on two wheels or four hooves. Depends on how much you value the old noggin. Years ago there was a saying about cheap helmets 'that if you had a ten dollar head you bought a ten dollar helmet'.
                                                          Cheers
                                                                    Ron.

[Babe]

How can you heathens prefer the horsepower of two wheeled transport, when you can have real horsepower beneath you?!? 

My hubby is very fond of saying "I ain't ridin' anything that big without a clutch."

What a lovely poem Irene - I used love riding, but a fall during mustering put me out of action for a few months, and I never really did get the enjoyment back afterwards.

However, I remember this:

We reach an open paddock and your ears begin to flick -
I feel your muscles ready as you ask me to be quick.
It only takes the slightest squeeze to tell you 'you can go' -
we race across the paddocks and I feel your strength below.

It's a magnificent feeling and I'm glad you reminded me.


Babe

[The Broomehill-Billy]

Bewdy again Irene,
Leaves your bull ride for dead, doesn't it?
Cheers Wayne.

[Irene]

Babe
Maybe one day, you will enjoy that feeling again!! I hope so, as nothing really compares, does it?!?

Wayne
You're dead right!!! Put me on a horse anytime!!! That bull ride was one of my sillier ideas!  There comes a time in everyone's life when you need to admit that age precludes you from doing some things - I have since decided that riding mechanical bulls at my age definitely is not a good idea!!! I don't think I admitted the whole truth before - I actually let myself be talked into getting up a second time - how stupid was that?!?  {Well, everyone else made it look so easy!!!!  }

Catchya
IRene