Poem from unpublished manuscript : Lessons on Western Riding by PD Lyons

This is the first poem from the collection, Lessons on Western Riding by PD Lyons. Many years ago I spent some time working/living/loving with horses. The poems represent the many aspects of that relationship. Selected from poetry written over the past 40 years or so. Hope you find something to like here. My intention is to post the whole manuscript more or less on the blog. Good luck. Bye!

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occasional it happens

stray song over the kitchen radio

old photo tucked in a book that for no reason I’ve  picked to thumb through

I hardly let it pause me

I usually just keep going

occasional it happens

my old bones do an old ache

glimpse that crooked clavicle in the bathroom mirror

hardly let it pause me

usually just keep going

occasional it happens

strong scent of well-oiled leather maybe someone’s coat

packed tight on the morning train

mists trough the damp windows

shadows moving up the hills

hardly let it pause me

usually just keep going

occasional it happens

but you know sometimes when it does

I just don’t feel like moving

stay right there face the tears

yeah, sometimes I miss the horse days

sometimes I just fucking do