For The Love Of Horses, A Book of Poems by Renee Moomey

Never Knew

     Never Knew

Never knew the mud could be so deep

Or creek bottoms so deceiving.

Never knew the itch of a sweaty saddled horse

Or the shakes that become unseating.

Never knew the innate fear of hogs

Or the prancing that becomes unnerving.

Never knew the grasses grew so tall

Or how well a horse heads home unseeing.

Never knew the depths of a thick, dark forest

Or the black locust cuts ever-bleeding.

Never knew the soreness of saddle butt

Or the pain of legs and knees so straining.

Never knew coffee thermoses could be scary

Or smacking deerflies sounded so startling.

Never knew the fast passing of sunsets

Or the rush of cornfield racing.

Never knew the pleasure of being outdoors

'Til addicted to true trail riding.

           For Cody, a grade pony