My Wild Horse Story: A Poem About a Mustang

A poem about a mustang.

Submitted by Roberta McClellen, about her father and his mustang.

--

From the Nevada wilderness to the rolling hills of Iowa, you came to become the beloved mount of a lonesome cowboy. 

Always wary of your surroundings, you and the cowboy grew to depend on each other.

Herding cattle, breaking a trail, riding fences.  Oh the stories that were told with pride.

The cowboy was so proud to know that you would allow him to guide you as you grew from a wild eyed, scared Mustang filly into a sophisticated mare with a personality to match his own somewhat short-tempered,  anti-social self. 

You were 20 years young when cancer weakened the cowboy.  He was no longer able to throw a leg across your back.  

Decisions were made to part with his other steeds, but not you, you were adopted.

In a homemade trailer, pulled by a borrowed truck, you followed your cowboy south to Alabama. 

Grazing with the goats, the Cowboy made daily visits just to give you a pat and chat about the day that the two of you would take to the trail again.

But God, in his infinite plan invited the Cowboy to go and live with him. It's been 14 years now that we've been missing him.  

The promise I made him has been fulfilled.  You lived the rest of your life within the view of my kitchen window. 

Today, I found you asleep amongst the trees.

Today, Hey Girl, was your day to take that final trail.

Thank you for making a lonely Cowboy sit tall in the saddle.

1986- April 27, 2020