White Horses (Poetry)

They thundered in from dawn’s horizon
clattered up the lonely shore
in a spray of surf and pebbles
wind-tossed manes and ancient lore

One stallion led this plunging army
a merman clung to his broad back
green waters rolled pale sunlight under
grey rocks submerged by fierce attack

Like some great herd of horses turning
to the merman’s salt-sharp cry
those beasts retreated to the ocean
running smooth beneath the sky

No trace upon the fresh-washed shoreline
where hoofprints might have left a trail
no witnesses but seals and seagulls
no human tongue to tell the tale