Poetry-beauty and rhythm of words.

April is the perfect month to discover the beauty and rhythm of words. In honour of National Poetry Month I’m sharing with you a heartfelt poem by Glenys Drew titled, The Beautiful Arabian Horse.
So many of us who love horses use poetry to express feelings straight from the heart. We have such a strong connection with horses, especially when you think about how they have been used domestically for more than 5,000 years. They provided ancient tribes with mobility. They were used in war time, used to hunt, work the farm, and pull heavy loads. The Egyptian’s used them to pull chariots and the Persians used them to build roads. It simply feels right to immortalise them by writing about their beauty, to paint them, photograph them, make movies about them and of course write poetry about them. We’re all connected by writing and especially connected by poetry because we can all write a poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme, it can be as short as a few lines and the poem can be about anything you see or do. Why not give it a try.
April 1st marks the start of National Poetry Month. This month long celebration of the verse was inaugurated in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets and aims to highlight the legacy and achievements of America’s poets. Why not join in and share the poetry of our nearest and dearest. I’m sure you would be surprised by what you might read.

The signature dip in the elegant head;

The kind and well-spaced eyes;

Mane aglow like silken thread,

As over the plain she flies!

Covering stride with easy pace,

And, as she thinks to pause,

Such spring of step with lightness and grace!

The beautiful Arabian horse.

A statue stands, her foal in view,

Maintaining watchful care;

Devoted true to her handler too;

The faithful Arabian mare;

Returned at length to her paddock friends,

New duties to enforce,

The others back to their places sends

The spirited Arabian horse.

The stallion stands on a hill at dawn;

His neck set arched and tall;

Strength of bone, of muscle and tone –

Stately and masterful;

Shades of Pilgrim, Arim, Job,

Destiny, Malik and Sindh,

Rikham, Banderol, Royal Domino –

Reflectors of the wind!

Karmen, Lucinda, Trix Silver, Rafeena,

Farida and Royal Jann;

Star of Ofir, Polaka, Estopa,

Contessa and Kasmiri Queen –

These and others, a strong, proud field,

A diverse foundation spanned,

Tracing their seed through decades to yield

 ‘A horse for a wide, brown land’.

They give their will, their trust we earn;

To those we have known and lost,

Honour long their courage strong

And value uppermost

The legacy of a fine, proud band,

With beauty and type diverse

Bred on to grace pastures, plains and sand –

The enduring Arabian horse.

Glenys Drew, 2012

Glenys and husband Richard own Rosegum Arabians in Beaudesert, Queensland. www.rosegumarabians.com.au

Photograph taken by Carmel Rowley in 1975 – the horse is Ralvon Pilgrim www.carmelrowley.com.au