RIDERS IN THE JUNGLE

RIDERS IN THE JUNGLE

  — after a painting by Gauguin, The White Horse 

By the stream of white irises,

a green bird watches a riderless white horse 

thrust his nose into the indigo water.

Splinters of sunlight flash up 

like slim birds from a fresh-cut orange. 

The man on the roan horse looks over his shoulder 

thinking he heard something fall into the water.

His friend strokes his horse's brown neck

and both horses paw grass tufts into the water

uncertain of what lies ahead.  

 2/22/85
after a CPITS class with Duane BigEagle

see Savage Dream
The White Horse

first draft

The man on the roan horse 
looks over his shoulder 
thinking he heard something 
fall into the water.
By the stream of white irises 
a green bird watches 
a riderless white horse 
thrust his nose 
into the indigo water. 
Splinters of sunlight 
flash up like slim birds 
from a fresh-cut orange. 
He strokes his horse's brown neck 
as it paws the water, uncertain 
of what lies ahead.  

 2/22/1985