Alone with the Wind
By: Horsesforever12

Like a ghost seeking prey
The wind twists and wines around me
Upon the sandy dunes it quietly lay,
Moments later it dashes about like a stormy sea.
I am alone. Utterly, breathtakingly alone.
Before me the sky melts with the desert horizon
I am a wanderer, a nomad with no home.
I feel as though I may die, but I have just begun.
As the day heat wanes to a night cool
Oceans of heavenly hosts occupy the dusky sky
I start to wonder if I am a fool
To crave freedom and hope to fly.
I am but a human, alone, desperately alone
Without a spot of food, without a drop of water
Shuffling in the sand, standing where the wind has blown
A mortal fate shall soon slaughter.
And there, as lay with my back against the cooling sand
Staring at the twilight heaven hemmed with stars
A soft noise caresses the soundless land
A whinny etched with memories and scars
I fly to my feet and peer deep into the night
With only stars for light, the shadows overcome
Surely, truly, it must be there! It must be plight!
Crazed by loneliness, I clumsily begin to run
"I am here!" I cry. "Do not leave me in this wasteland."
At my left, the shadows move, followed by hoof beats
I glimpse a sanity stream of hair fly above the sand
"Do not leave me! I will follow!" I blindly entreat.
The minutes turn to hours and the black turns to gray
I feel my throat scream for liquid and I ache for food
But always, constantly, the Phantom Horse is one step away
I hope and pray that it is real. Surely fate is not shrewd!
In a while I am ridden of energy, my legs start to collapse
I grapple for some last threads of courage and continue on
And then the horse is gone. Hope is dead at last.
How could my life end so quickly? How could this be more wrong?
I slowly crawl around one very last dune
And there, before me, is the Phantom Horse
Black as midnight, fast as wind, wild as the moon
Muscles quiver with power, adrenaline, and force
He looks at me with flaming amber eyes
And turns his head directly to the north
And there I see civilization. Could a beast be so wise?
He gives me a soft nicker as if to say "Go forth."
I find strength deep within me and stand to my feet "Thank you," I whisper to the Phantom Horse
With a snort he whips around and flees
Determinedly following an unknown course.
I am once again alone...a nomad with no home
I am battered by the wind and ankle-deep in sand
But I no longer endlessly, blindingly roam
I have hope. No matter what life, dream, or land.