─── Sometimes I feel like a horse brought in from the cold
with eyes wide, nostrils flared and breath heavy,
where the smallest things cause my instincts to scream; run.
You hold out a hand, try and touch my muzzle
and a small part of me knows;
you just want to connect.
But all I see is danger danger danger,
so I pin my ears, paw, buck and rear
because all I know is fight, flight or freeze.
Fear, I can feel your fear coursing through you,
it only spikes my own guilt, please… I don’t want to be like this,
with chains clamped around my sweat covered coat.
You reach for me with urgency knowing I want to leave,
but all I feel is cornered… trapped
with a galloping heart and nowhere to go.
“I don’t understand,” you say,
except you catch my eye and look beyond the fence,
where safety is space and roaming is peace.
Your eyes scan over my heaving form,
bearing witness to my battered body and scattered scars,
proof of my fierce survival in an unforgiving world.
With a deep and calm breath you take a step back,
lower your gaze to the floor to simply;
hold space and not give chase.
I feel your energy settle and so does mine,
breathe, a chance to assess
maybe everything is alright, maybe I’m safe.
I chew the air and lower my head as I take a hesitant step forward,
ears flick at the sound of your steady breath, no words.
I know it scares you the way I refuse to be close,
but I need you to trust that I know;
home is where you are and home is where I’ll return.
My soft muzzle touches your perfectly still hand,
inviting a quiet moment to connect,
where your calm patience makes me want to stay.
But remember, underneath my now soft eyes;
I’m still untamed and wild.
