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August 27, 2006
I was on the island of Kauai a few weeks ago.
While I was there I went for an early morning run one day as the sun was rising.
It was a beautiful morning and the birds were singing the dawn’s praise with gusto.
The quiet road where I ran is alongside a vast field that is home to a number of magnificent horses and some very cute lambs.
As I started running, one of the horses standing at the fence near the road lifted its head and snorted a horsey greeting in my direction.
I said hello to the horse and continued running.
I heard her snorting again behind me.
I turned and looked over my shoulder and said, “Wanna run?”
The horse swatted some flies with its tail as it considered my offer.
“I’m talking to a horse,” I thought. “I wonder if I’m losing my marbles.”
Behind me, the sun reached over the mountains and brushed its hand across the fields, turning the grass the richest green you can imagine.
I took a deep breath and inhaled the cool, fresh morning air.
Then I heard the horse and turned to see where it was.
Much to my surprise, the horse had galloped up behind me on the other side of the fence.
I continued running.
So did the horse.
We ran.
And ran.
And ran together for almost half a mile. Then the field ended.
The horse stopped abruptly at the fence.
I know she was frustrated. I could hear her whinny slightly.
She maintained her regal poise, looking longingly at me as I continued to run.
I know she wished that the fence did not exist.
So did I.
I turned and said goodbye softly.
She snorted.
“I enjoyed it too,” I said.
The horse lifted her head.
I raised my hand, acknowledging the connection.
I ran toward the distant mountains, my heart overflowing with an exquisite sense of euphoria.
What a magnificent gift.
Posted by trevor at August 27, 2006 06:05 PM
Comments
You did it again
You made me smile when I really needed it
Your stories are a home outside time and space
What a magnificent gift :)
Gracias
Posted by: Gilda at August 28, 2006 11:25 AM
I love this. It reminds me of the horse my sister won (yup, $2.00 on raffle tickets -- boy, were my parents surprised!). He was one of the sweetest beings I've ever encountered!
Posted by: Liz Ness at August 29, 2006 12:33 AM
How absolutely lovely!
Posted by: The Rose Within at August 31, 2006 10:20 PM
What a wonderful story about one of those special experiences we are sometimes lucky to have. This makes me think of one of my favorite poems:
A Blessing
by James Wright
Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.
Posted by: carla at September 3, 2006 11:22 AM