for Mimi
at 37 your Welsh pony was old when you got her
by size and temperament perfect for you at 8
more age than choice on her part
you find her down in the paddock before school
your day starts early with the chores
feeding the horses chaff and hay checking water and untangling stays
the vet attends explains she is not getting back up
I can give her something to ease her way
what we all may need one day
send your daughter to say goodbye
it’s important for her but which
his wisdom escaped me at the time
you approach that shadow in the mist
heat rises from her flanks streaked with red mud
her smell with you as you cradle her head in your arms
tears and the grunt of the backhoe
in the corner of the paddock she made her own
a mound in the mist slowly subsiding
you grow up quite a bit that day