Horse-ache

Posted on by Reena Saxena

I watch unfinished horses
in the painting gloat
as the artist struggles
to decide
which way should they face

these powerful creatures
drive the Sun God
and warriors on battlefields
but are deemed to promote discord
if they choose different directions
on a canvas
not the ground they trample

their feet trapped in shoes
uncomfortable
wonder
how the same shoe
becomes a symbol of good luck

when a horse splits the sky
with rendition of pain
or suppressed emotion
forefeet held high in air
the saddle and bridle
shed silent tears

I commiserate
with its unease
in imposed roles
and a search for meaning
in pure animal existence
free of human masters,
artists and interpreters

Poetics at dVerse

18 thoughts on “Horse-ache”

  3. A riveting read, the thoughts transpiring at an engaging gait as they lead us from paradox and mystery to unabashed sympathy and the anthropomorphism of “unease
    in imposed roles
    and a search for meaning.”     I wonder what that “pure animal existence” would look like for ourselves and horses, the latter “free of human masters,
    artists and interpreters.”     And don’t we as humans face the judgments of others as well?! So much food for thought, beautifully rendered, Reena.

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  6. I love the idea of the horses in the painting gloating, Reena, and I agree about the irony of uncomfortable horse shoes becoming symbols of good luck. These lines touched me:

    ‘when a horse splits the sky
    with rendition of pain
    the saddle and bridle
    shed silent tears’.

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