Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HORSE (1) by JAMES HARRISON

Poet Analysis

First Line: A / QUARTER HORSE, NO RIDER
Last Line: TO KNOCK ME OFF?
Subject(s): ANIMALS; DECEPTION; FRIENDSHIP; HORSES;
A

quarter horse, no rider
canters through the pasture

thistles raise soft purple burrs
her flanks are shiny in the sun

I whistle and she runs
almost sideways toward me

the oats in my hand are sweets to her:

dun mane furling in its breeze,
her neck
corseted with muscle,
wet teeth friendly against my hand -
how can I believe
you ran under a low maple limb
to knock me off?



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