<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><p class="">Waking </p><p class="">A massive blue stallion rears before me <br class="">out of a midnight lake of dreams</p><p class="">Moonlight flows <br class="">like fire along his flanks, and</p><p class="">an inner blaze flares <br class="">from the dark mystery of his eyes</p><p class="">I turn and flee, afraid for the small life <br class="">clutched tight in my chest, knotted in my stomach</p><p class="">Branches tear at my coat <br class="">underbrush at my feet</p><p class="">Every step, the horse gains <br class="">his heavy breath close and closer, until</p><p class="">I stumble</p><p class="">He grabs my collar in his teeth <br class="">flings me over his shoulder, onto his back </p><p class="">and waits, trembling </p><p class="">for me to grab a handful of his wiry mane <br class="">press my knees together</p><p class="">urge him on </p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Karl Frederick</div></body></html>