I hear in my heart, I hear in its ominous pulses, <br />All day, on the road, the hoofs of invisible horses, <br />All night, from their stalls, the importunate pawing and neighing. <br /> <br />Let cowards and laggards fall back! But alert to the saddle <br />Weatherworn and abreast, go men of our galloping legion, <br />With a stirrup-cup each to the lily of women that loves him. <br /> <br />The trail is through dolor and dread, over crags and morasses; <br />There are shapes by the way, there are things that appal or entice us: <br />What odds? We are Knights of the Grail, we are vowed to the riding. <br /> <br />Thought's self is a vanishing wing, and joy is a cobweb, <br />And friendship a flower in the dust, and glory a sunbeam: <br />Not here is our prize, nor, alas! after these our pursuing. <br /> <br />A dipping of plumes, a tear, a shake of the bridle, <br />A passing salute to this world and her pitiful beauty; <br />We hurry with never a word in the track of our fathers. <br /> <br />I hear in my heart, I hear in its ominous pulses, <br />All day, on the road, the hoofs of invisible horses, <br />All night, from their stalls, the importunate pawing and neighing. <br /> <br />We spur to a land of no name, outracing the storm-wind; <br />We leap to the infinite dark like sparks from the anvil. <br />Thou leadest, O God! All's well with Thy troopers that follow.<br /><br />Louise Imogen Guiney<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-wild-ride/
