Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Equine Therapy: A Poem



I see you
on a horse,
peaceful
as the moon,
no longer struggling
with your world.

And I hear
your anxiety
slowly absorbed
into saddle
and sinew
and mane,
your nerves
smoothed
by the gait
of gentleness.
You are
our child.

So long
our seasons have
turned too quickly
with worry,
our days ground
by the milling
of our stomachs,
frantic you’d
never make it.
The nightmares,
the notes
from teachers,
the shake
of the doctor’s head,
prognosis:
this is the way
it is.
We abandoned rest
long ago.

Yet here
you are,
confident as sunset,
sitting straight,
shoulders back,
a streak of smile
on your serious lips.

You laugh
as the mare
tickles your senses,
lifts her head
to meet your touch,
softly jolts you
into recognition
that you are
as good as anyone,
that you are
loved unconditionally,
that not being able
to speak it
does not equal
less-than,
or lower-than,
or a negative number,
especially when
you’re riding a dream.

We’ve waited
for this time
when you
would be strong
enough to wave
while riding,
happy enough
to giggle,
hopeful enough
to love tomorrows.

Now,
as afternoon drops
behind the field,
we see you,
our child,
standing up
in stirrups,
matching the rhythm
of your carrier,
trotting towards
victory.
You lean forward
to the future,
and maybe,
just maybe,
a good night’s
sleep.

Katherine M. Gotthardt
copyright 2013

Friday, October 18, 2013

Help Write by the Rails Fund a Poet Laureate!

Through Advance Title & Settlement's "Advance My Community Give Back" program at Potomac Local, 30% of their sales commission will be donated to local charities until Nov. 4, 2013 by 11:59 p.m. Local non-profit charities will receive their percentage of the campaign funds raised based on the percentage of total votes they obtain by Nov. 4.

Help us by casting your vote as often as you can! Any winnings will be put towards sponsoring an area Poet Laureate--the first ever--creating a new tradition in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.   The Poet Laureate will help spread the joy and beauty of poetry to the area by working with youth and adults through organizations dedicated to education and the arts.

*** Homeowners looking to sell, buy, refinance or short sale, contact advancemycommunity@closeithere.com

*** If you are a Realtor or mortgage professional, contact advancemycommunity@closeithere.com

Friday, October 11, 2013

A Hero's Welcome

You left unscathed and unharmed
You returned a bit shaken, battered, and wounded
You lived your life in constant fear of
Not knowing when or where the
Enemy might appear out of nowhere
To hurt and kill you and your comrades
Overshadows your dreams
 
Your dreams are about the war zone
That seem to haunt you on a daily basis
Sometimes insomnia reminds you
Of being on the battlefield
 
Regardless of the effects of war
Freedom is all that matters to you
Freedom is worth going to war for
Freedom is worth every bit of sacrifice and pain
 
For you, home is where your heart is
Hero, Welcome Home!
 
-- T. E. Brooks