Garden of Poetry

Horseshoe-Nail Ring

In her late-hour reminiscence,
She saw him against the sunrise,
Strong upon his chestnut stallion,
Tipping his brim to her as she smiled -
She, the schoolmarm, daffodil, poem-worthy soul,
As lovely as the yellowing photograph upon the mantel.

Young was she, serenaded by bird song, morning song,
Wrapped in rapture -
The cowboy stepping down to the dew-fresh grass,
Holding his hat upon his chest, over his heart to keep in the emotion,
His rock-hard hand presenting the ring as delicately as it was able -
The iron ring, pounded from a horseshoe nail.

In her sagging dresser drawer,
She kept a horseshoe-nail ring.

In her late-hour reminiscence,
A cowboy brought her the wealth of Eldorado,
And placed it in the palm of her hand.

~ Daniel F Mitchell