the phone call

they found her horse
out near the far stretch of fence
that held back
the woods
in California, Maryland.

deep into the thick of weeds
and grass.

she hadn't rode him in years.
old
and nearly blind.

but she brushed him each day,
washed his back.
swatted the flies away
in the grey barn.

sugar and carrots fell
from her hand.

I remember how she cried on
the phone.
harder than when her father died.
harder
than when our love
ended.