I watched a rodeo and the horses seemed unhappy. 

The men use ropes to bind,

Whips to motivate. 

And once they are loosed,

The horses still writhe

As if they can feel the cords linger. 

Bulls are taunted; 

Men are praised. 

Cattle are yanked by the neck. 

I left the rodeo early, 

Walked into the dusk. 

Found a wild mare

Strong and unrestrained. 

Cheers sound behind us, 

But in the final daylight, it is quiet. 

It's just us. 

I reach out a hand -

An invitation. 

Rejected, but that's okay. 

We respect rejections here. 

So I bow my head to her,

And she inches closer. 

I whisper;

She sets me free.