August 21, 2017

Riders in the Night by Ryan Stone

Outside, in the distance
a wild cat did growl
two riders were approaching
the wind began to howl. -Bob Dylan
Hoofbeats on the tundra!
Beneath a mage’s moon
she draws her shutters closely,
prays morning finds her soon.
Thunder shatters silence,
a rapping at her door
tears the night asunder–
a mountain cat’s wild roar.
All along the cornflower
rows, shadows dance with glee,
seeking answers in the wind
howling by a lone oak tree.
Dawn finds an empty homestead–
bleeds in through broken panes,
across spilled dill an’ fennel
and spattered, rusty stains.



Ryan Stone is a freelance writer from Melbourne, Australia.  He shares his home in the Dandenong Ranges with his wife, two young sons, a Ragdoll cat and a German Shepherd.  A selection of Ryan's poetry, prose, haiku, and flash fiction can be found on his blog - www.daysofstone.wordpress.com.

5 comments:

  1. Beautiful and eerie, Ryan. Love it!

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  2. Beautiful I love the hope this ends with. The rhythm is excellent too like hoof beats then like the storm outside. I do wonder if at the end she is okay. I know you left this open on purpose but it makes me think what could've happened to her as the end the homestead is empty "with broken window panes." Also your title, based off Dylan's verse made me very much think of The Doors song "Riders on the Storm" it was playing in my head as I read this. Awesome job he congrats on having this piece published!

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  3. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments Sarah, Frank, Beth and Amanda. I really appreciate your feedback.

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