Stallion (Poetry)

Pain is a massive unbroken stallion
I struggle to hold on to —
he bucks and rears at random as
he displays a savage nature
that will not be tamed by any
medication — he gallops tireless —
a wild and stubborn beast.

Painted with the blackest of despair —
his eyes are my eyes rolling —
we share our breath — the aching
rise and fall — the judder —
every gasp of this long ride —
muscles tense and tight with
sheer sensation shutting out

the time — the place — we hurtle through
like runaways melted into one machine —
I’m welded to the seat that’s hard
and keeps me wakeful and aware
counting sinews — nerves in common
so I have no choice but take
this headlong flight along a foreign road

while all around the sky is burning
purple sheets of flame —
the pulse of flying hooves
his perfect rhythm of revenge
against the rope that tethers
bone to heaving flesh —
the spirit always straining
                                to break free.