chores

before the sun can see our light, I've given hay to all
before the birds put sleep the night, the grain already falls
before the frost can love the fields, the water's on its way
the chores are done before I yield to the start of everyday
my ears ripe red from a bitter wind as breath becomes billows
the morning after a long nights fight where we lost two of the foals
and the mothers beg with front hoof raised for another chance to birth
labor bare the broodmare's care for nothing left on earth
and dam she'll never be this year no young one for to raise
the fields will only see the mare lonely as she graze
the waters that will fill this farm come spring floods will they gain
the stillborn's broken broodmare as she breathes away the pain

dog knows that it's paddock time the last horse been turned out
stalls mucked and hay in place the long lines leather's cut
last nights woes are soon erased as the geldings loose the fence
and coyotes craze have carcassed left just bones and subtleness
the day turns on in afternoon and the clouds they shower down
fields will wait another day before they feel the plow