Farewell to a Friend

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Easy Street Prompts (“busy vagabond”)

Inspire Me Thursday (“coffee break”)

Meme Express (St. Augustine quote/s - below)

Read – Write – Poem (“fear”)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Simply Snickers (“balance,” “bold” and “bright”)

Three Word Wednesday (“blush,” “quiver” and “tenderness”)

Totally Optional Prompts (“expectations”)

Thursday Challenge (“sound”)

Weekend Snapshot (photo/s)

Wordless Wednesday – Everyday (photo/s)

Writer’s Island (“champion”)

Photo c2008 by Nickers and Ink

Marcel Marceau (Attache x Circus Wonder) was a champion Saddlebred showhorse and beloved equine friend. Named for the famous French mime, who wore similar facial markings, he competed successfully in English, driving and sidesaddle equitation. Marcel Marceau was a trooper on the trails.

Marcel Marceau died from colic-related illness on November 12, 2008. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. Fond memories of The Clownface will live on in many horse-loving hearts.

“Seek not to understand that you may believe,

but believe that you may understand.”

St. Augustine

The clown-faced administrator in the field,

A camera’s delight for a lady well-heeled –

So proudly he’d prance in his Saddlebred way,

Parading pure attitude on full display.

Though gelded, his manhood he ever maintained.

When pretty mares passed, he could ne’er be restrained.

He’d balance and park for his lady to climb

Then blush for a filly, this sixteen-hand mime.

Beyond expectations, the top of his class,

His pedigree royal, his color bold brass.

This true busy vagabond, sturdy and sound,

Tossed fear to the four winds, while trotting around.

His fair lady’s temperament, he revived.

He’d quiver with tenderness as she arrived.

She’d offer him carrots and cookies homemade

And trim his silk mane with her tears and with braid.

Her forehead he’d kiss, as a horse only can,

Affection unearned, unlike offered by man.

His bare back he offered for spirited walks

Way more therapeutic than coffee break talks.

Unbridled devotion for those he adored

Diminished his years and declared him restored.

This champion stepper each day was reborn;

His flame, it burned brightly till his final morn.

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!