The Innisfree Poetry Journal www.innisfreepoetry.org by Lyn Lifshin
March 30, Just Past Midnight on the warm straw. The mare’s body opening. The men pull gently. Slosh of water and then the foal’s slippery body, iodine and the smell of birth in the wind the minutes after midnight “A wooper,” “white feet, a lovelycolt," in Secretariat's record fan book. “Lovely,” was underlined twice. Riveted to Secretariat’s Bursting Forth those easing him from Somethingroyal’s body said he was on his feet in twenty minutes, in 45 he was nursing. “Big strong, male foal with plenty of bone.” Warm breath of horses, Carolina Riverwind. In her log, Elizabeth Ham the farm secretary wrote “well made colt, good straight hind legs, good shoulders, good quarters: you have to like him.” In Penny Chennery’s Notebook after the Night of Drizzle, Rain as the river settled and willow leaves yellowed: one word: Wow On that First Day Was Somethingroyal his mare panting? puzzled? Those huge shoulders. Something she couldn't see quivering thru her. The mare had foaled easily before but this time, even with her feet on the dirt floor, easier footing than cement but this time with the foal’s fore leg folded like a petal before it opens, someone following the mare’s contractions gently eased him out of the birth canal. Beautiful the vet remembered, his legs were perfect, he had a beautiful head and was red as fire Copyright 2006-2012 by Cook Communication |