When I am Old

When I am Old

When I am an old Horsewoman
I shall wear turquoise and diamonds
And a straw hat that doesn’t suit me
And I shall spend my social security on
Red wine and carrots,
And sit in the alley way of my barn
And listen to my horses breathe
I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night
And ride the old bay gelding
Across the moonstruck meadow
If my old bones will allow
And when people come to call,
I will smile and nod
As I walk past the gardens to the barn
And show instead the flowers growing
Inside stalls fresh-lined with straw
I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair
As if it were a jewel
And I will be an embarrassment to all
Who will not yet have found the peace in being free
To have a horse as a best friend
A friend who waits at midnight hour
With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes
For the kind of woman I will be
When I am old

Author Unknown