Amelia's Appaloosa

Editor's note: The following first appeared in the Winter 1995 edition of The YMCA News, a publication  of the Madison Area YMCA, Denis J.Kelly, managing editor.

Amelia's Appaloosa
Ride the Hollow's Sleepy Shadows Before Winter's Long Blue Echo

Lost somewhere in the woods:
Let the river flow at its own pace and in its own time, and tune your body's internal timepiece to its pace. For it is wise to harness the great forces of momentum in your quest and it is foolish to think you could ever change the course of the river anyway. Unless, of course, one of the truly great notions of  Western Civilization comes along, as they are wont to do from time to time. Then, it is your responsibility to bridle the great strength of your creative whimsy and follow the leadership of Amelia's Appaloosa.

Major Andre's tree
All saddle and pumpkin and stark bark
Silhoueted against a blustery moonlit sky
Beckoned the equestrian toward a rendezvous
Somehow written in the wind long after yet also long before.
Amelia led her frightened Appaloosa named Salmon
Up the narrow shadowy path.
"Let us take this adventure," she encouraged her steed,
"Against the brisk October wind.
Feel the air's crisp bite awaken our sleepy resolve.
For surely, all saints and all souls accompany our journey
Across these unchartered waters,
For they have been down these hollows themselves.
Is this a dream come true, True Love, or yet another false alarm?
Come, let us search toward the shadowy dawn
For a passageway to a new life.
We seek our new faith.
We seek our new hope.
We seek our new love
In a history on the other side of the morrow,
Flying ever east toward the horizon."

Searching somewhere in the city:
Let the river flow at its own pace and in its own time, and tune your mind's internal timepiece to its pace. For it is wise to harness the great forces of momentum in your quest and it is foolish to think you could ever change the course of the river anyway. Unless, of course, one of the truly great notions of  Western Civilization comes along, as they are wont to do from time to time. Then, it is your responsibility to bridle the great strength of your creative whimsy and follow the leadership of Amelia's Appaloosa.

Old Neighbor Calloway's Cafe
All coffee and candles and sidestreet conversations
Silhoueted by Greenwich Village streetlamps
Beckoned the aviator toward a rendezvous
Somehow written in a diary long ago yet also long before.
Amelia stabled her frightened Salmon
Uptown near shadowy Central Park.
"Let me take this adventure," she calmed her trusty steed,
"Against the wet November storm.
Feel late Autumn's first gale awaken our sleepy resolve.
For surely, all saints and all souls accompany our journey
Through these unchartered analyses
For they have been down these hollows themselves.
Is this a dream come true, True Love, or yet another false alarm?
Come,let us search toward the shadowy dawn
For a passageway to a new understanding.
We seek our new knowledge.
We seek our new meaning.
We seek our new commitment
In a history on the other side of the morrow,
Learning ever about the east beyond the horizon.

Found somewhere over the Pacific:
Let the river flow at its own pace and in its own time, and tune your spirit's internal timepiece to its pace. For it is wise to harness the great forces of momentum in your quest and it is foolish to think you could ever change the course of the river anyway. Unless, of course, one of the truly great notions of  Western Civilization comes along, as they are wont to do from time to time. Then, it is your responsibility to bridle the great strength of your creative whimsy and follow the leadership of Amelia's Appaloosa.

Wise steed's broad shoulders
All muscle and sinew and instinct
Undaunted by the wintry moonlit sky
Beckoned the painted pony toward a rendezvous
Somehow written in history long after yet also long before.
Salmon deciphered the street-maze to rescue frightened Amelia
From the hollow's shadowy mysteries.
"Let us tame this adventure," he soothed her heart,
"Under December's first white snowfall.
Before Winter casts its long blue echo, let us awaken our sleepy resolve.
For surely all saints and all souls accompany our journey
Across these unchartered iceflows,
For they have been down these hollows themselves.
Is this a dream come true, True Love, or yet another false alarm?
Come, let us search toward the shadowy dawn
For a passageway across the Pacific.
We seek our new assignments.
We seek our new achievements.
We seek our new aspirations
In a history on the other side of the norrow,
Meditating ever eastward on the illuminating horizon."

For Conversations With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
April 14, 2011