Hello Grasshopper,
                            I enjoyed this poem. I have read Arthur´s comment already where he refers to your poems link with a film and the life of the Brontes. I wasn´t able to make that link myself as I don´t know the film to which he referred so I may be missing many allusions, so my comments are from one who may be half in the dark. I definitely liked the first half more than the second. The first three stanzas have a wonderful rhythm - slow, sad, slightly hypnotic. I liked the way one stanza flows into the next. I liked the images - brushing down her skirt, irises were deep with hope - these  work very well. I felt the poem fell away from a bit at the end. I think the hoarse laughter is a rather heavy pun and I didn´t understand the idea behind the last line, but this may be where I´m missing some vital connection with the film or the actress, or something.  Hope this helps.


Best wishes,   Mike



--- Alkuperäinen viesti ---
            The horseman

Her eyes are bleached by disappointment;
the years have been unkind.
She brushes down her oatmeal skirt

and checks her lipstick in the mirror,
careful not to meet her gaze.
She saw a film once, years ago,

when her irises were deep with hope,
where death was a cloaked rider
mounted on a great black steed.

Now she is afraid she will open the door
not to a horseman but to empty dark,
and a snort of hoarse laughter -

no steam from a stallion's nostrils.
She looks at the world wearily, warily,
expecting geese to say boo

and swans to duck like addled eggs.

                            grasshopper