Bare-Back Rider (A Lucid Dream) Poem by Sonya Florentino
Bare-Back Rider (A Lucid Dream)
He was a stallion
A big black horse, I was
Astride his back, muscular, bare
Hanging on to mere tufts
of his shiny black hair
I don’t know how I got there
It seemed like a dream
Me on this big horse galloping
through a dark forest thick with trees
with gnarly branches reaching for me
Terrified I crouch as low as I can
Try to grip the horse’s flesh
but I couldn't so I hold on
to his mane for dear life
and with a prayer I close my eyes
Don’t throw me off
Don’t let this forest take me
Don't leave me here
This nightmare will devour me
Please go slow dear horse
Don't stumble and fall
Be careful of the rocks
And branches hanging low
But he would not go slow, oh no!
He was on a mission
To where I didn’t know
I had no choice but to hold on
Clinging for my life
Praying the branches won’t
Hit him in the eyes
So I stay there like that, eyes shut
My body as close to to his as I could get
My face pressed to his neck
I cry, wracked with fear
Certain I would die right there
After a while, after what seemed like ages
And nothing happening
Only the sound of hoofs
and the wind whipping
I suddenly realize...
This horse is bigger than me
If the branches don’t hit him
How can they hit me
He is not afraid of the dark
If he's not afraid of dying
Why should I be
Slowly I sit upright
Slowly I open my eyes
The scenery had changed
The rider and the horse are now
One and the same
.....rider and the horse......; aren't dreams funny, sonya? At the same time quite amusing, too! One is the God in ones dreams, yes? ?
The sheer beauty of the dark, poetic landscape enchants the reader.10 for your creative adventure, Sonya. Warm wishes, Sandra
This is totally captivating and entranced me to the very end. I thought it was amazing in your dream to realize the horse was so much larger than you and you needed to trust the power and strength of this horse. It is a wonderful poem written by a very creative poet! 10 love Karin
An epic of a poem that has the reader hanging onto its every word from beginning to end. I particulary like the sudden jolt from nightmare to sweet dream. S :)
I am amazed at our human minds...and where they can take us. The things we cannot face in the daylight become the midnight black steeds of our dreams, and more often than not, give us the solutions to our problems! Asleep...awake...or somewhere inbetween...dreaming, yet knowing we are dreaming...asleep and awake at the same time. You have presented this very real (lucid) dream very, very well indeed. I enjoyed the read, and yes, it did come close to home at this present moment! Thanks!
very nice imagery. the dream quality, nightmarish as many have observed, is also very sensual, albeit darkly sensual. The way you bring it around from fear to regaining control is amazing, a difficult feat showing an accomplished poet's metal.
the way you evoked the dreamscape made me breathless...it has thrown open several layers hidden deep within the subconscious...how did i miss you all these days?
It feels as if you are coming to terms with fears in this intriguing write.....
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/18/2024 11:36:50 PM # 1.0.0.1119
I do love lucid dreams, and this one hums with excitement. Thanks for sharing it. Your words really brought it to life.