Haibun: Our Wild Horses

Though not native to North America, the horse adapted quickly. Some Aztec tribes thought the Spanish were gods because they rode in on such beautiful beasts. During the Pueblo revolt of 1680, when the Spanish fled for safety, thousands of the horses from Spain ended up going to some of the Plains Indians while the rest went wild.

The wild horses took to the arid lands of the Southwest. Able to go distances without water, they matched up well with how the West is hydrated.

But we are no different. Maybe we were born with a certain identity or story, but when new ones emerge, they can feel more natural than the original. It’s part of growing up. 

the river’s cooling

The horses refueling from heat

that can be grueling