to say goodbye.

it was the crack of the gunshot that startled me

I knew it was coming

but i still stammered with my hands

as if i was grasping a live snake

instead of the handful of dandelions

to feed to Ebony over the fence

Ebony's head whipped up

he looked to the North,

trotted in that direction

held back by the paddock fence

he then trotted to the loafing shed

peering through the large logs

to the North

I eased my body through the fence rails

and walked up to him

quietly

we both stared

together

through the large logs

towards the North

there was no other shot

His arms hung down by his sides
His pistol in one hand
her pink and white cotton lead rope in another
He stood back, and looked 

and then leaned in closer

one shot to the right spot

like He was told

she didnt even know

so quick, painless

the way it is, supposed to be

guilty relief, then grief, then thankfulness

Straightening up,

He stared to the South

into the Sun

seeking
wanting

waiting

for us

she had been sick

for months

a good old pony

struggling towards an end

the unknown cancer eating her insides

until they revealed themselves outside

the kindly vet

in his honest way

told me i was just maintaining her

"you'll know

when its time"­­­­­

I eased the leather halter

over Ebony's nose

buckled the brass 

and snapped on his lead rope
his ears pricked forward
he bugled once, then twice

and called out once more

she did not call back

there was no her calling back

with a gentle tug and a cluck

we walked on

towards the North

towards them.

towards her.

It was time to say goodbye.

_