Valentine and Other Magnificent Ponies
by Diana Mead
Illustrated by Brooke Dickson
© Mead/Dickson
For The Children With Love
Ponies strode down country road
They never missed a beat
Nickers and a nuzzle
Carrots for a treat
The first one said
“I will be happy to take you for a ride”
Maude, a chestnut roly poly placid –
her flaxen mane and tail glowed in the dark
and moonlight showed her way
The next one said
“Be my guest”
but didn’t count on formal interference
Miss McQueen was hired
to tell me how to ride
Flag was a high stepping bay
with very busy ears
He kept tabs on everything
especially me and that took me higher
We clicked together
Miss McQueen was shouting
“Do this and Do that to Do better”
How can anyone listen twice at once?
especially when one is silent
except for his hypnotic trot
Sweet Briar covered the coop
and Piper scanned the sand
Rum Punch carried me over the course
And Drummer joined the band
Valentine took me home again
Cargo packed them straight
Sage Cock dumped us into the coffin
And Peter Patch was late
Of all the magnificent ponies
El Saltador was best
He asked of me to sit quietly
And he took care of the rest
