...quiet, about a lot of things...
Thursday, February 22, 2007
A Trick of Science for Poetry Thursday
My poem for PT prompt "The Body Knows" is about my manipulation of my Mares heat cycles. She knows the days are longer now and it's time to breed. However, that's not happening this season. But what do ponies know of birth control?
Edited to add..This is really an odd little poem. I wrote it late last night..so bear with me. Sometimes you just have to write about what's on your mind...even if it appeals/relates to no one...
To Fool Mother Nature
Reproduction can be
thwarted by a glass bead
slipped into the womb
of the horse
a marble really,
the cats eye shooter
weighing only ounces
of false beginnings.
It fools only the
mare, she settles
into a motherhood
she will never know.
She gives up
the fight or flight
lulled into patience.
she begins the work
of creation.
She is easier to guide
round and round
the circles we go.
She is happy
for the company.
Sliding down to the ground
I run up my stirrup
patting her neck,
I lead her home.
I wonder, as I tuck her in
if she will know my cruel trick.
Worrying many nights away
"Where is the foal I dreamed?"
wlf
See what else the body knows at Poetry Thursday
Edited to add..This is really an odd little poem. I wrote it late last night..so bear with me. Sometimes you just have to write about what's on your mind...even if it appeals/relates to no one...
To Fool Mother Nature
Reproduction can be
thwarted by a glass bead
slipped into the womb
of the horse
a marble really,
the cats eye shooter
weighing only ounces
of false beginnings.
It fools only the
mare, she settles
into a motherhood
she will never know.
She gives up
the fight or flight
lulled into patience.
she begins the work
of creation.
She is easier to guide
round and round
the circles we go.
She is happy
for the company.
Sliding down to the ground
I run up my stirrup
patting her neck,
I lead her home.
I wonder, as I tuck her in
if she will know my cruel trick.
Worrying many nights away
"Where is the foal I dreamed?"
wlf
See what else the body knows at Poetry Thursday
Labels: Poetry Thursday
25 Comments:
It's a wonderful poem, Wendy, about a subject of which I know little. But you've made it fascinating and understandable.
I really like this. I think it's very accessible (I know nothing about horses!) I like poems about things that give you a glimpse into places or moments that are unknown.
i really enjoyed this ... so easily duping the mare ... making her so compliant ...
a poem that urged me to read until the end
That's the cool thing about poetry, you can read about an experience you've never had and somehow get some understanding of it. I feel guilty sometimes about the things we do to the animals in our lives, even though we feel we're doing them for their own good. But is it really a cruel trick if she's more content, less stressed as a result?
Very interesting and informative. I did not know that. Now I feel so bad for the mare.
gautami
In-between state of consciousness
Interesting poem, I like the last lines. They seem to ring true.
I can't help but wonder, is this what we do? Am I happier out of season?
Great poem.
Rose
xo
I loved this poem about horses and how we humans manage them. Would we be so compliant? She may not realise, but you're right,the body knows.
I like the way you have portrayed the symbiosis between you and your pony.It's really rather a sweet poem. I like it a lot - thanks Wendy!
Afterthought - I'd love to read more pony poems. How about it?
This is great. It begs for the question: Where is your marble? (the 'your' is from a guy's point of view, since I will never be in that position, at least I don't think I will)
I just read it again, 'cats eye shooter' is a very good line.
Nicely put. I like the "sound system." The music of the poem if you will.
You can do that to horses?
I think animlas are so tuned into intention- so if your intention is pure, that's what she will pick up on...
A wonderful poem, Wendy...
This is such an uneasy poem, with the rationalizations about this trick making it "easier" for the horse, when it is really for the convenience of the human. No wonder it closes with such worry. Such a morally intelligent, honest poem--those are the ones that take the most courage to write, to own up to these small violences.
Jim is so right on this - your empathy and bit of guilt really shine here and make this poem more than just an explanation of a process. Wonderful Wendy.
Yep, everyone, you can do that. You can also give a homone called Regumate..I think it's progesterone. It works, but its nasty stuff. Female (of the human persuation, can only handle it with gloves.
I thought I'd try this, since I'm not altering her, just mimicking pregnancy.
Mares can be, well, kinda bitchy during their cycles..
and if any male out there snickers about this..and perhaps makes a comparison..I'll find you...and make you pay!!!
Thanks for the nice comments on this odd little ode to my pony
mike mc..the only marbles I have are in my head. And I'm open..(in horse terms...available to be bred..) but at my age, and stage of the game...Hubbie and I are very very careful!
This is an amazing poem. Like a marble it is small, but firm and glossy. Does that metaphor work? i don't know, but this poem works. And like someone else said, it is your human bit of guilt that makes it ring true. The last line is so sad. Since I know nothing about this "cruel trick," I can only imagine that what you have done is for the best, so the sadness is tempered. I think I am saying too much. Your poem says it all best. So good.
I've learnt something there, but you wrote it so beautifully it didin't feel like a lesson....
Great last line!
There is a beautiful rhythm to this poem. Who knew a cat's eye shoooter could do that? Thank you for visiting my site.
Yes, I feel sad for dogs , cats, horse owners who Fix their animals before they could ever know birth from their bodies, maybe they are not sad! I HOPE they aren't sad. Great poem Wendy! These poems maybe are the best, right from the guts and heart!
I like your blog, Wendy. All your horse-talk is fascinating. My parents have a few horses (one's a Tennessee Walker, a mischievous one!), a pony and a mini donkey. But I know nothing about them, even though I love them!
This poem is interesting, a sad meditation on maternity, or a "ghost" maternity for your mare, and about your role in the matter. Well done.
The way you have built this piece is gorgeous and rather than hearing it simply as a piece about horses I hear it as a piece about you, about motherhood, about hopes and dreams that will not be fulfilled, about most everything I find myself thinking about in my daily life.
It reminds me a great deal of Carl Dennis's poem "The God Who Loves You" which is impossibly beautiful.
Wow--really multidimensional. Nice line breaks.
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