E- Poetry Writers - Frances - Round the Back of the Horse's Field

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Ruminations Written for the April Year 3 topic of "Spring"

                                                  The white mule
                           She rode with round the terrace
                                                                             My Last Duchess

Not even spring can bring the dead to life;
Not chafing wind, nor blossoms crowding round
The tomb’s sealed door; for in relentless strife
The cold stream’s arrowed flow has all tight bound.

I was her favourite mule - No, do not laugh
Unless you have some greater claim to fame -
For I kicked from the Duke’s own powerful grasp
His golden cup, and then was beaten lame.

It was nothing, for gladly I’d bear more -
A thousand cutting blows across my muzzle -
If only life returned as was before;
The terrace, sunshine, hand upon my mane.
And cropping snowdrops on her grave, I puzzle
If ladies mules in heaven meet again.