The Foal

I'll lend you for a little while my grandest foal, HE said.

for you to love while he's alive and mourn when he is dead.

It may be one or twenty years, or days or months, you see,

but will you, till I take him back, take care of him for me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,

you'll have treasured memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,

but there are lessons taught on earth I want this foal to learn.

I've looked the wide world over In my search for teachers true.

And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, with trust, I've chosen you.

Now will you give him total love? not think the labor vain,

nor hate me when I come here to take him back again?

I know you'll give him tenderness and love will bloom each day,

and for the happiness you've known, forever grateful stay

But should I come and call for him much sooner than you'd planned,

you'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and someday, understand.

PEACE AT LASTŠ

They brought me here late last night
To this place so dark and cold.
I heard them say my days are over,
Now I feel so all alone.

My eyes adjust to this dim light
But I see no one I know.
I wonder why they left me here
So far away from home.

I always did my best for them,
I just don't understand,
Why I never heard kind words of thanks,
Or the gentleness of a hand.

But wait, I hear a crying sound
In the pen right next to me.
And when I peered between the boards,
A mother cow I did see.

I asked her, "Why are you crying?
And why do you look so sad?
Could it be your master has left you too?
Did you do something bad?"

She looked at me with big brown eyes,
And said, "No, I've been good.
My master says now I'm too old
To give milk like I should.

For each year I'd have a baby,
Oh, a beautiful baby you'd agree,
And each year they'd take my baby away,
The babies that meant the world to me.

But now I'm old and tired,
And I must go away.
To where I'll be a calf again,
To run and jump and play.

And so I'll pray for you my friend,
I hope your end comes fast.
Just close your eyes and think of me,
And you'll find peace at last."

And then she turned back to the corner,
And cried her silent tears.
And I was left alone again,
With nothing but my fears.

Soon a man came for me,
With a sneer upon his face.
He looked at me and then he said,
"Gawd, are you a disgrace!"

"With ears too long and a ratty tail,
And a cross upon your back,
The things that I admire in a horse,
Are all the things you lack."

Well, I had heard those words before,
And they always made me sad.
I'd often felt the sting of a whip,
Since the time I was a lad.

He led me to a big bright room,
There were people everywhere.
And when they saw me standing there,
They just looked at me and stared.

Then they started laughing at me,
And making fun of my long ears.
They all were laughing so hard at me,
That they didn't see my tears.

I let out a bray louder than them,
But it only made them laugh more.
And that's when a man hollered, "SOLD!",
And I was led out another door.

Standing all alone again,
With my head hanging down so low,
I heard the door to my pen open up,
And I knew it was time to go.

Then with my eyes closed tightly,
Against what was to come,
I felt a kind hand upon my face,
But where could this be coming from?

I opened my eyes and saw
A little girl smiling bright,
She wrapped her arms around my neck,
And held me oh so tight!

My days are full of sunshine now,
With my little friend.
We go for long walks in the hills,
And my heart is on the mend.

She thinks my ears are beautiful,
And tells me so each day.
I think she knows just how I feel,
When I greet her with a bray!

by Kathy Dynge

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