Lucky Horse Shoe

(circa 1975)

I was 9 years old
when I stayed overnight
at Uncle Dales and
Aunt Sandy’s Farm
in Northampton County Pa.
 
I fed the chickens,
I fed Bucky the Beagle,
I fed the pigs,
I cleaned manure from
the horse stalls and
I fed the horses.
 
I walked behind the horse
as it was eating and
I feel a  gun shot in my
back right side ribs.
 
I lose my wind,
fly 6-8 feet
into the wet mud
just outside the barn.
 
I try to catch my breath
and come the realization
how important oxygen
is for quality of life.
 
I did not feel lucky
this day, even though
I have a bruised
marking of a horse
shoe on my back
from the
kicking
horse.