many and varied are the spices
that clutter through my life
one in particlar springs to mind
it was back in the depths of time
summer of 1965 in ireland
at fifteen years of age
I knew it all couldn't be told
I had a fancy to ride this horse
at a stables near Bantry Bay
For a few weeks I tried to persuade
the owner to let me ride him
he kept telling me no, no and still no
but at long last he agreed to my request
but first round the field he made me ride
well that was easy although not in control
I made it look as if I was by pulling up
on each and every corner ok he said
you can go out but you will be the first
from England if you come back together
so oft we set up hill along the coast
towering clifts to my right a wall ahead
I could not hold him oh no, no way
as he bolted up the hill i knew, just knew
I had to do something fast or we were dead
the gap between the wall too narrow
with thick trees along the wall
near 400 yard drop on my right to rocks
so I did the only thing I could
I turned his head hard to the left
brambles four to five feet high
and so thick you couldn't see their end
we crashed down hard but I kept the reins
so mounted and oft we went again slowly
twice more that wretched horse bolted with me
but I can say with foolish pride
we both returned to the stables together
I had learnt a lesson that day for sure
never bite off more than you can chew
I never ever asked to ride him again