A Horse Named Cadillac

The seasons change as do trees of many names
Their colors, their fruits, their seeds, their loss and their gain
Nature is many things beauty and pain
The worker becomes wise and the wise become the workers
Perhaps never the same
Kingdoms of anarchy in an orderly game
As we as man pray for the predator and the lame
And we construct symbols of the gods that came
Before us and in the future never the beast to be tame
So the animals must navigate the narrator of the wilds’ claim
To wings in the gossiping winds and galloping hooves on the sun soaked plains

 

There once was a wise owl and a work horse
They were best friends although that was very strange
For a horse and a bird to know each other half their lives
And gave each other names even though they didn’t quite understand titles
The farm horse being wise himself named the owl “Falcon”
Because of his relationships with man he understood titles better than the owl   
So the owl’s name came from his hunting prowess and keen eyes
The wise owl very limited in his knowledge of human symbols
Had heard the word Cadillac praised for its’ strength and performance
And with little wealth of man’s speech named the horse “Cadillac”
Both names fitting and at the same time ironic

 

Every morning “Falcon” would perch on a post before he went off to bed
And have a talk with his dear friend that always ended with this question
Every day it was the same trying to persuade “Cadillac” to leave the farm
And travel with him and live free in the woods
But “Cadillac” would always respond the same
That he respected the farmer and enjoyed plowing the land
“Falcon” would say but the farmer only sees you as a tool
Not even worthy of a pet, yes he feeds you and gives you shelter
But a home is not merely a place with walls and a roof
It is where you build a life with creatures you love
And I am your only friend but in the forest you would be able to meet other companions
Please, come live wild with me and I will spot open fields to graze
You can eat the grass and that will help me spot my rats
And when there is no more rats or grass we will explore the world some more
But just as so many sun rises before “Cadillac” would say
My friend don’t feel sorry for me, I am a work horse and I am happy this way
I am not a slave as you may think we are all put here for a purpose
And for me it is my love of working the farm
But I hope you return tomorrow so we can have our thoughtful chats
And I wish you safe travels and good luck on your adventures tonight
So “Falcon” was off to sleep and rest, soar and hunt
Still “Falcon” would come back every day to have conversations with his friend

 

One evening after an early dinner “Falcon” felt like he needed to talk to his friend
He wanted to joke about how easy a prey this snake was and see about “Cadillac’s” day
But “Cadillac” was dealing with his own snake in a way but it was no jest
“Cadillac” at middle age had hurt his leg and was resting in his barn
“Falcon” fashioned a bandage the way he would a nest
Then “Falcon” asked can you walk, yes said “Cadillac” but I can’t pull my plow
“Falcon” said we must go my friend, I don’t know as much as you about man
But I do know when a tool is broken you get a new one and get rid of the old one
And then in the distance the owl’s night vision saw the farmer holding his gun
He tried to reason with the horse with these wise words
Saying man can be very loving but he doesn’t understand he has enslaved the animals
They have a great imagination but they don’t live in the moment as we do in the wild
Man is a true thinker so he lives more in memories of the past and thoughts of the future
We are best friends so I would never put you down just because you became a burden
In man’s eyes birds are pets and horses are workers and our exotic kin are in zoos
We all know of man’s great strength and beauty of art and words
Even the song birds tweet “I know why the caged bird sings”
It’s kind of an ode to our relationship with man
Our need to be free, write songs and build homes
They admire our flight and we are in awe of their poets
So I plead with you “Cadillac” let this be the last time I ask
Come with me my friend before you don’t have another chance
As the man approached the horse struggled to stand
And then the farmer pointed the shotgun at “Cadillac’s” chest
“Falcon” flew up and swooped down with talons fully out
And clawed at the man’s face almost ripping out an eye and off his lip
The man cussing and riving in pain drops his gun
“BOOM”
From the ground it blasted “Falcon’s” wing and feathers flew
Though not a critical wound he couldn’t fly
So “Cadillac” picked his friend up and tossed him on his side
And the two had just enough time
To escape to the wild woods, now running but soon the freedom to fly
To live as friends, not “Cadillac” and “Falcon”
But simply as the horse and the owl