An Old Friend
A bolt of pain
Stabs at my sorrowful heart.
Paralyzed with fear and knowledge
I kneel at the side of an old friend.
My eyes swell up with tears
As I stare at the faithful loyal horse
Lying helplessly at my feet.
His once round smooth belly
Now rough with bony ribs
Heaves up and down with great effort.
His once gentle dark brown face
Now gray with 38 years of age
Winces with pain.
Too weak to rise,
He rocs his nose up
Stretching his neck
and reaching out to me.
A quiet muffled nicker
Is al lthat escapes his throat
As he gives up his effortless struggle
And lays his head back in the snow.
I close my eyes racing back in time
Back when Red and I were young.
when my eyes open once again
The life flows from my dear old friend.
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