"girl and horse..."

they were never ones to
care about
their colors matching...
socks
sweaters,
hats with gloves...

they never seemed
to 
dream of tulle or lace,
princess crowns,
or fairy wands adorned with
ribbons, glitter,
sequins...

they were not the kind of girls who
wanted new clothes
for the first day of school,
had a desire for
baubles,
and
bows...

they were always just a bit
"off the cuff"

willing to wear last year's
outgrown hand-me-downs,
the same shirt
every other day,
shoes that serve a purpose,
if not a particular
trend...
soccer cleats,
court shoes,
slippers to keep warm,
boots that stay in stirrups,
flip flops
for wiggling one's toes...

but...

when
crossing
the chaparral
in a dusty t-shirt,
jeans that could stand up on
their own --
stiff with corral grit and
stable grime --
a polocrosse helmet for a crown,
and
a racket for a scepter,

they are
perfectly tailored
for
chasing
a cowgirl's dreams
of
rodeos,
ranching,
a cloud of dust,
and
a horse to
call
a friend...

a pair of
roughriders

each beautifully
outfitted...from within

the perfect match of
heart
and
soul...

girl
and
horse





[photo credits: Ted Gast - Adventure Unlimited c. 2011]