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judyanne
judyanne
Apr 03, 2010 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

My Pretty Ponies



My father taught me to count seconds

in my mind with ponies -

my pretty ponies.

 

I’d count them with joy and anticipation.

And through my childhood years

many pretty ponies

bounded through my imagination

pulling time on a fast ride

towards the next adventure.







Each pony racing past in reckless abandon.

Hundreds through the years.

 

Until the moment

some of my ponies froze for an eternity

never to fully recover.

 

I asked how long it would have taken him to die that way.

“Oh quick,” the reply, “About twenty seconds.”

 

Twenty of my ponies aged within me.

 

Sometimes now, every now and then,

twenty shabby ponies take a long time

to limp slowly past.




















— judyanne, Apr 03, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Western Australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: Favourite poets? So many, so varied. I like particular songs, not necessarily the singer... and the same goes for poetry. I can honestly say though, that Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman was what inspired my love of poetry - my mother began reading it to me when I was still a baby, and it became my favourite bedtime story

More from this author

Critiques

themoonman

themoonman

16 years 2 months ago

Judy...

I really like where you went with this poem. My only thought on it was this, somewhere, maybe even in the title, I would have said "sixty" ponies. It would limit the ponies so you may not want to add it, but I thought it would go along with the time frame quite well. A heartwarming poem about the gift of imagination, your Dad must've been a very well adjusted man. thanks for sharing your ponies
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 2 months ago

thanks richard

if i used a number it would have to be twenty, as that is what the poem is about really, those twenty seconds. it's a take on part of my book 'Twenty My Pretty Ponies' and i left the twenty off to differentiate the poem from it thanks for the read and the crit. judy
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 2 months ago

thanks theo

i knew it would read this way (my father)to anyone not in the know, and it is a perfectly fitting analysis so i didn't bother trying to qualify it in the poem - i left it open for other interpretations. the twenty seconds are those i was told it would've taken my son to die. not telling you for sympathy - just so as you can see the poem on the deeper level as a thanks for your read. love judy
Seren

Seren

16 years 2 months ago

Dear Judd

That last line just grabbed my heart and squeezed and you know why I think ... love and big hugs Jayne-Chloe
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 2 months ago

hi L

yes, we need to make every second count for what it gives us, no matter what it's length. thank you love judy
P

pamela

16 years 2 months ago

teardrops

Dear J., I didn't rate this one because some poems are beyond that, and this is one of them. I lost my dad when I was 18 months old. I can't remember him though sometimes if I try real hard I think maybe I can. Awesome poem, it really touched me. I wish my dad would have left me a pony. Love to You and thanks for the good cry today. P.
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 2 months ago

dear P

such a lovely comment! thank you so much ((((hugs))))) love J
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 2 months ago

their spirit of creative passion

Ann of Norway The day the horses, sorry ponies, froze, how dramatically this vision hits me; like looking at some of the most beautiful horses man has ever made, in the British Museum, they too are frozen but they are still lovely and their spirit of creative passion by the artist is still there as is the spirit of your charging ponies they still ride on, with such aesthetic love they were made and used and then displayed proudly for all the world to see, they are still charging in your mind although you froze their images at one time, you live and breathe on into this century and give us new ponies to enjoy looking at in your words dear judyanne, you do, annanya with love.
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 2 months ago

To have even one parent that

To have even one parent that opens a child's mind to inspiration, investigation and imagination. Blessed Be. ~A "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." ~ A Course In Miracles
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

16 years 2 months ago

Dear Judy

Your father must have been an imaginative person. This poem touched my heart and wrenched my soul *tears* the last line is killer! Always, Cat
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

16 years 2 months ago

Dear Judy

Your father must have had a wonderful imagination. Your poem touched my heart and wrenched my soul *tears* The last line is killer! Always, Cat
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 2 months ago

dear cat

thank you my father was a patient man never in a hurry i think he too counted ponies. love judy
loved

loved

16 years 2 months ago

TWENTY

Twenty wouldv'e been fine as i cannot count beyond 21 great ponies poem loved
xena465

xena465

16 years 2 months ago

Beautiful poem Judy. The 20

Beautiful poem Judy. The 20 seconds for me is the reason that I can't be present when I have to put one of my pets to sleep. They say it's quick and painless, but it's not for us. The thought of looking into the eyes of a pet I love, even for a second of still being alive, is too much. I just know that my pet will be looking at me for the last time before they know they're about to die. Brilliant. This poem to me is about having to let go of the ones you love, in seconds of their last breath. Rosina xena465
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 2 months ago

so lovely to have you back !!!!

thanks for calling by, thanks for the lovely comment yes, as i told you before, there are many reasons i no longer have pets. love judy xxx