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baxter
Gold Member
 England
1123 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 09:20:20 AM
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Does anyone have any poems/extracts that relate to horses leaving us?
My friend very very suddenly and sadly lost her healthy cob mare last night, she is at grass livery with my youngster and she got the call we all fear saying she was dead in the field, last night was very traumatic but also strangley calming as the place she had chosen to fall was peaceful and sheltered and the herd were interested and inquisitive but humbling and cautious with her.
She died we think from heart failure.
I want to pass on a poem to her in a card and i know some beautiful ones have been posted before, can i have them again please.
RIP D'Arcy.
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Edited by - baxter on 21 Nov 2008 09:35:04 AM
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Kazhak
Silver Member
Australia
352 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 09:48:27 AM
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Please give me a couple of moments I know theres a few by the Australian bush poet (I know horse is not australian) but theres a really nice one that he wrote about an Enduring horse
I'll see if I can find a couple & post,
hope your friend is doing okay
Kazhak |
     
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 10:15:12 AM
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| i found one but it was about PTS so not really appropriate |
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Kazhak
Silver Member
Australia
352 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 10:16:39 AM
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I'm not too sure this onesreal appropriate but its a great horse story from one os Australia best,
this one still makes my heart go thump
The Story of Mongrel Grey
This is the story the stockman told
On the cattle-camp, when the stars were bright;
The moon rose up like a globe of gold
And flooded the plain with her mellow light.
We watched the cattle till dawn of day
And he told me the story of Mongrel Grey.
He was a knock-about station hack,
Spurred and walloped, and banged and beat;
Ridden all day with a sore on his back,
Left all night with nothing to eat.
That was a matter of everyday
Normal occurrence with Mongrel Grey.
We might have sold him, but someone heard
He was bred out back on a flooded run,
Where he learnt to swim like a waterbird;
Midnight or midday were all as one --
In the flooded ground he would find his way;
Nothing could puzzle old Mongrel Grey.
'Tis a trick, no doubt, that some horses learn;
When the floods are out they will splash along
In girth-deep water, and twist and turn
From hidden channel and billabong,
Never mistaking the road to go;
for a man may guess -- but the horses know.
I was camping out with my youngest son --
Bit of a nipper, just learnt to speak --
In an empty hut on the lower run,
Shooting and fishing in Conroy's Creek.
The youngster toddled about all day
And there with our horses was Mongrel Grey.
All of a sudden a flood came down,
At first a freshet of mountain rain,
Roaring and eddying, rank and brown,
Over the flats and across the plain.
Rising and rising -- at fall of night
Nothing but water appeared in sight!
'Tis a nasty place when the floods are out,
Even in daylight; for all around
Channels and billabongs twist about,
Stretching for miles in the flooded ground.
And to move seemed a hopeless thing to try
In the dark with the storm-water racing by.
I had to risk it. I heard a roar
As the wind swept down and the driving rain;
And the water rose till it reached the floor
Of our highest room; and 'twas very plain --
The way the torrent was sweeping down --
We must make for the highlands at once, or drown.
Off to the stable I splashed, and found
The horses shaking with cold and fright;
I led them down to the lower ground,
But never a yard would they swim that night!
They reared and snorted and turned away,
And none would face it but Mongrel Grey.
I bound the child on the horse's back,
And we started off, with a prayer to heaven,
Through the rain and the wind and the pitchy black
For I knew that the instinct God has given
To prompt His creatures by night and day
Would guide the footsteps of Mongrel Grey.
He struck deep water at once and swam --
I swam beside him and held his mane --
Till we touched the bank of the broken dam
In shallow water; then off again,
Swimming in darkness across the flood,
Rank with the smell of the drifting mud.
He turned and twisted across and back,
Choosing the places to wade or swim,
Picking the safest and shortest track --
The blackest darkness was clear to him.
Did he strike the crossing by sight or smell?
The Lord that held him alone could tell!
He dodged the timber whene'er he could,
But timber brought us to grief at last;
I was partly stunned by a log of wood
That struck my head as it drifted past;
Then lost my grip of the brave old grey,
And in half a second he swept away.
I reached a tree, where I had to stay,
And did a perish for two days' hard;
And lived on water -- but Mongrel Grey,
He walked right into the homestead yard
At dawn next morning, and grazed around,
With the child strapped on to him safe and sound.
We keep him now for the wife to ride,
Nothing too good for him now, of course;
Never a whip on his fat old hide,
For she owes the child to that brave grey horse.
And not Old Tyson himself could pay
The purchase money of Mongrel Grey.
Edited to say by Banjo Patterson |
Last Picture Taken by Matt Bennet |
Edited by - Kazhak on 21 Nov 2008 10:18:18 AM |
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leezee26
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 10:18:09 AM
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I am so sorry to hear this, please pass my most sincere condolences to your friend. Here is one that has been put on here a lot.
Leighxx
Don't Cry For The Horses
By: Susan Humphrey
They were ours as a gift, but never to keep,
As they close their eyes forever to sleep.
Their spirits unbound,
On silver wings they fly.
A million white horses,
Against the blue sky.
Look up into heaven,
You'll see them above.
The horses we lost,
The horses we loved.
Manes and tails flowing,
As they gallop through time,
They were never yours- they were never mine.
Don't cry for the horses,
They'll be back some day.
When our time is gone,
They will show us the way.
Do you hear that soft nicker?
Close to your ear?
Don't cry for the horses,
Love the ones that are here.
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Noo
Bronze Member
England
69 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 10:22:47 AM
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Don't cry for the horses that life has set free.
A miilion horses forever to be.
Don't cry for the horses now in God's hand.
As they dance and they prance in the heavenly land.
They were ours as a gift, but never to keep.
As they close there eyes forever to sleep.
Their spirit unbound, On silver wings they fly.
A million horses against the blue sky.
Look up into heaven, you'll see them above, the horses we lost, the horses we loved.
Mains and tail flowing, they gallop through time.
They were never yours, they were never mine.
Don't cry for the horses, they'll be back someday.
When our time is gone they will show you the way.
Do you hear that soft nicker close to your ear?
Dont cry for the horses, Love the ones that are here.
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lulu
Gold Member
763 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 1:00:34 PM
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Here's one by Whyte-Melville:
There are men both good and wise who hold that in a future state
Dumb creatures we have cherished here below
Shall give us glorious greeting when we pass the golden gate;
Is it folly that I hope it may be so?
For never man had friend
More enduring to the end,
Truer mate in turn of time and tide.
Could I think we'd meet again
It would lighten half my pain
At the place where the old horse died. |
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joanna_piana
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3935 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 1:10:09 PM
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When Shida died someone put this on the back of a photo of her on a piece of plastic card
We hoped this time would never come
We'd hoped not to be here
But time and tide would wait no more
To raise our greatest fear.
For in its haste it took a pal
But time, they say will mend
The Sadness tht we feel right now
Towards a loyal friend
For Friends you were but never spoke
Could make us laugh ad cry
asked for little gave a lot
Until this final path
We will always remember happy times
Before this day drew nigh
Now theres only one thing left to say
Thats thank you Shida Goodbye
It still makes me cry but I carry it in my purse with me |
      
Harthall Rashida RIP, Binley Ishara, Bouchan
Chorleywood, Hertfordshire |
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Guesty
New Member
England
28 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 8:11:51 PM
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Thats really sad, condolences to your friend, she must be devestated.I like this one:
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
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SarahA
Silver Member
476 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 8:54:23 PM
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| Well thats me in tears, these poems always seem to be able to touch a nerve, i did read one on here once that was lovely, (that made me cry to ) i wrote it down somewhere so i will see if i can find it. |
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crinks
Gold Member
England
650 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 10:01:26 PM
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Goodbye Friend
Don't cry for me now that I am gone
Remember our days filled with blue skies & sun
Travel the forests we rode in the dusk
Swim through the many a river we crossed
Don't cry for me now that I've left you behind
Go through the photos you've gathered with time
Read all the stories you wrote of my life
Think of the times you stayed with me at night
Don't cry for me now when you are there all alone
Think back on the memories of the fun times we had
The stories you made up and the adventures we tried
Of princesses & knights, gallently riding
Don't cry for me now you did the right thing
I love you more than ever for what you did for me
To have the heart to let me pass on
And not live in pain when my time had come
Don't cry for me now - in time we will be together
Others need you more than I do now
And when we meet once again we will race through the sky
Never to be parted for one moment in time
Don't cry for me now that you miss my soft nicker
I will never forget your compassion in my time of need
I thank you with all my heart & will not forget
Enjoy your life....soon we will be together again
Don't cry for me now that I have crossed over
The Rainbow Bridge leads to happiness & glory
Our stories come true there & pain does not exist
And when you cross over I will be waiting
May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say good-bye to pain filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.
I want to go.
I really do.
It's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day,
to give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and so afraid,
because I see your tears.
I'll not be far,
I promise that, and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you,
wherever you may go.
Thank you so much for loving me.
You know I love you too.
That's why it's hard to say good-bye
and end this life with you.
So hold me now, just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today.
If Tomorrow Starts without me.
If Tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many
Things we didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
But if tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand.
He said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I would have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life I’d always thought,
I didn’t want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do.
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I’d say goodbye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven’ gates,
I felt so much at home,
When god looked down and smiled at me,
From his great golden throne,
He said, “This is eternity,
And all I promised you.”
Today your life on earth is passed,
But here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last.
And since each day the same,
They’re no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times
You did some things
You knew you shouldn’t do.
But you have been forgiven
And now at last you’re free.
So won’t you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?
So if tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think were far apart.
For every time you think of me,
I’m right here in your heart.
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crinks
Gold Member
England
650 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 10:03:24 PM
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sorry but I just found this one as well may not apply to Arabs but we can all relate to this one
God Jumps
by Lauren Davis Baker
God gives us horses and compels some of us to love them. Yet why does the horse,
an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life? Perhaps it's because
if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't be able to bear losing them. Or,
perhaps it's because God wants to jump.
Perhaps God looks down on the fine horses we raise and decides when it's His
turn to ride. He gives us a few good years to care for and learn from them, but
when the time is right, it's up to us to see them off gracefully.
O.K., perhaps not gracefully. Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful. But we
can be grateful.
To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse
can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life.
Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the
fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated
at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.
Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle-or a computer-a horse needs regular
care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch.
Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets
is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily,
we know we've made the right choice.
Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers,
requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean
water. Others will test you-you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat
or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing.
Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new
ways to injure themselves.
If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique
personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there are clever
horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor
will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect
it. I found one of ours on the front porch one morning, eating the cornstalks I'd
carefully arranged as Halloween decorations.
Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit
it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many
"types" of horses as there are people-which makes the whole partnership
thing all the more interesting.
If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing
you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday-but to
truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex
than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car in "drive."
In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to
say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program
and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill
you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're
learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose
to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully
carry you over fences...if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership - and
partnership is what it's all about.
If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll
learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to basic survival
skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal,
how little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people think
the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as
well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting
on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.
You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results
may come more quickly but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through
trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we
experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and
mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with
absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.
If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have to squeeze
riding into our oversaturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine with
those of our households and employers. There is never enough time to ride, or to
ride as well as we'd like. Hours in the barn are stolen pleasures.
If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses
know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into
their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where
life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us,
and the luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders.
When you step back, it's not just about horses-it's about love, life, and
learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue
ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken
limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people,
we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss,
and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is
more than a moment of sorrow.
We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed.
Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for
their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give.
To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots,
who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with
praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry
us into and out of fields of battle.
Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges
met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little
in return.
Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together,
we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We
shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion.
In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our horses
to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place.
And so we pray:
'' Dear God,
After You've enjoyed a bit of jumping, please give our fine horses the best
of care. And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more good gallop
when we meet again?
Amen''
__________________
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baxter
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2008 : 5:23:51 PM
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Thank you so much for all of these, they're beautiful i will pick my favourite for her card.
Thanks.x |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2008 : 5:35:53 PM
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| These were all so fab, I was in tears reading these, big hug and support to your friend in her loss |
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2008 : 10:07:15 AM
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SO sorry to hear of D'Arcy's sudden passing. I hope that your friend can take comfort from the fact that she was surrounded by her friends. Must have been a terrible shock. Hugs.
Blubbing again! These poems get me every time! |
Based Bewdley Worcs |
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