At the crack of thunder a handsome young colt took flight
down the alpine spine
he dashed and crashed through alpine scrub
until he had arrived
in the sheltered valley amongst his mob
that gave him comfort and respite
from the raging storm that crowned the mountain
turning day into night
his tremor settled as he sidled up to his grazing mother
the elder mare
she turned her head to see the sweat on his flanks
the rolling eyes of fear
she nuzzled licked and settled him
with a maternal stare
curious young Brumbies wander alone all to often
with reckless care
and all to often intelligently they navigate and interrogate
the delicate high country
strong and predator free they browse moss fields and trees
leaving only debris
as well the large wild Brumby mobs roam freely about as if
the place were theirs to own
they churn the creeks and chop the wafer thin soil
to its rocky bones
the wild horses of the Australian bush are part
of history myth and legend
but their introduced arrival on colonial fleets
often goes unmentioned
noble creatures of the northern hemisphere they cast
dark highborn shadows
across native southern habitats their hard hooves and heavy weights
disrupt natural indigenous flows
Today Dora asked we poets to write to a general prompt about horses. She included several remarkable sample poems you might like to read here https://dversepoets.com/2024/07/23/poetics-running-with-horses/ I chose to write about our local Australian wild horses, Brumbies. As an introduced species, Brumbies are controversial, both celebrated and appreciated. I hope to have developed the reasons why in my poem.
poetography.ink 
Sean, I am in awe of how you begin with beauty and terror (of horse and storm) and end with beauty’s terror (of the ravaged land under the hooves of “noble creatures,” “dark highborn shadows”). A masterfully laid out paradox that limns the controversy over and celebration of the Brumbies with lyrical skill and balance. Well done.
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Here is Australia it is a significant controversy. Some want removal, others a cull, others to let the Brumbies roam destructively free. I understand all positions and feel quite torn. They are wonderful creatures to see in the wild.
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Introduced species can often tip the delicate environmental balance of a place. But your love for Brumbies shines through this beautiful write.
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I read some marvellous books about them by Elyne Mitchell when I was a child. These days I can see beyond the romance of their presence as well. I am somewhat torn.
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This reminds me of the Silver Brumby books I read as a child.
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I loved those books too. When I was last working in Towong I met with author Elyne Mitchell’s daughter. We planned some walking tracks beside the Upper Murray under the gaze of Kosciusko. It is a magical place.
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Fascinating write Sean, much I was not aware of — excellent… 👍🏼🙂✌🏼
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Thanks Rob, I expect we could all learn a lot from each other about our different countries.
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It is amazing how horses survive in the wild, strong and healthy for the most part. Even in harsh terrain they seem to find what they need
Very well written!
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They are a very intelligent and resilient animal, but not great for our fragile landscapes.
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Your Brumbles remind me of the Cumberland horses, horses running wild on a tiny island off the Georgia (US) coast that were probably introduced there by Spanish conquisitors centuries past. Many human lords fought over and lost control of the island (the last most recent was the steel-baron Carnegie family, who gave it to the US Parks Service), and now the horses run wild in the ruins.
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I like that story. I am sure there is a great poem in there somewhere.
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What a fascinating and tragic story. Thanks for sharing it and the photos. I am not sure about the Parks Service leaving things to themselves. In such a finite space there is something unethical about leaving an introduced species to malnutrition – even if they are now mongrels horses.
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Beautiful poem, Sean. I didn’t know about these horses or their history.
I think many people in the US do not realize horses were also brought from Europe though much earlier than to Australia, of course–by Cortés in Mexico in the 1500s.
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It doesn’t take long for societies to forget. If only we paid more attention to history we might do better for the future.
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Perhaps so.
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This is so well done, Sean. I love how you tell us more than one side of the story in your poem. As the adage says, there is always more than one side to every story!
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Thank you Jennifer, it is a very emotional issue here.
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Those speckles are magnificent on them. I learned a lot about Brumbies from your poem. It’s too bad their hooves tear up the terrain.
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They are beautiful animals.
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If I hadn’t known already – the words brumby and mob located you in Australia – great poem and great for highlighting the dilemma, Sean…
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