THE WORKHORSE

Originally written circa. ~ 1992 as a frontispiece for an Edenbray Art Exhibition of Paintings of Workhorses and Lincolnshire Landscapes – Poem was Posted ~ 16 February, 2012 – Re-posted ~ 2 January, 2020 as part of an Edenbray Retrospective

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The Workhorse

✴

Hold hard the workhorse as I trial and sweat

Hold hard his image whose head held proud

I hear the sound of chain and leather

and the hoof which treads heavy

✴  ✴  ✴

The mauve and grey sky does bite

Left hard and nicely cruel

To cut winters sod and crumble

To the edge of steel forged white

✴  ✴  ✴

I am trained to this and others for to teach

As bound to brothers, sisters

We do tramp the earths border

To send the harrow deep

✴  ✴  ✴

The girth glistens in pale sun

Caught with the fury and the snort

Of steam and rough energy

The buckles and straps glisten and shine

✴  ✴  ✴

The rough ‘scrape’ and dust that settles on my brow

And dries the throat so coarsely

In clouds my blinkered eyes peer thru’

To see the hope of man’s invention

✴  ✴  ✴

Hold hard the workhorse whose step and sway

Measured by the ploughman’s eye 

Fettered by his guiding rope, bonded by his patient care

Is given reign to ply his honest trade

✴  ✴  ✴

writtenby♞edenbraycirca.1992

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Dedicated to Jessica my best and most discerning critic ~ who works herself into the ground.