The Sea of Horses

THE SEA OF HORSES

Out across the ocean as the wind drives it to shore,
comes a herd of swelling horses in a wet stampeding blur
The snorting spray of liquid lungs go down against the jetties
while lunging, leaping legs come up with frantic barrels breaking

Pasterns pirouetting high, lunge over plunging plains,
while whitecaps flash the fractious whites of a million rolling eyes
Stomping hooves stretch for the sand, their iron shoes a-splashing
as high-stepping steeds come grazing in over fields of swirling seaweed

Sun champs upon sweetwater bits, longshanks glisten in the mist
as liquid leather faints upon the edge of a thousand cliffs
Teeth clattering their gnashing shells, wet ears pin back in panic
as bucking, rearing, startled herds with undulating manes, fall

Then, kicking, right back up they jump the driftwood floating nigh
and capriole upon the crest, the froth, an ivory blaze between their eyes
Now the briny, rolling arm of sea pulls on the rein of surf
one final neigh, a sliding stop, the bridleless tongues are silenced

Then springing back in unison, a turning on their haunches,
the mighty herd comes back as one to plunge the plains forever