Memories of Snow

Dance of the White Stallions

Dance of the White Stallions

Equestrian art's essence!
The horse and rider united
to form a single entity.

Each step precisely executed,
as six equestrians march
in perfect review formation.

Two by two,
in classical formation,
the white Lipizzaner's dance
across the arena.

In mirror-image perfection
each stallion performs natural gaits,
dressage,
haute d'ecole,
passage and half-pass,
as the riders' slightest movement
signals each step
in the graceful Pas de deux.

Three by three
the white Lipizzaner's dance
the Pas de trois,
with vigorous
and spectacular skillful canters,
half-passes and pirouettes.

Four Lipizzaner's perform
the Spanish Walk,
piaffe,
and passage,
while the dance the Pas de quatre.

In "The Airs Above The Ground"
single stallions demonstrate Levade,
Courbette,
Croupade and Capriole--
classical battlefield maneuvers.

The last dance is their ballet
the Quadrille.

Poet's Note: ▶︎

I wrote this sometime in 148 B.E. The inspiration was a dinner show (I can't remember which hotel-casino.) Mom and I attended. The performance was Lipizzaner stallions.