The Horsehead
©2014 Marvin E. Fuller

"Thus, the Houyhnhnm beheld the Face of
		"M'nemaxa, He Who Gallops the Edge,
"And whinnied their despair to the heavens.
"Madness swept across the land and
"Chaos roiled through the herds.
"Stallion, mare, and foal cast themselves
"Unto the dust and whickered in torment.
"'Is this not the end of days?  The final race?
"'Alas!  His monstrous countenance!
"'That hideous gaze!  That terrible hide!
"'Those abominable teeth and vile claws!'

"Amongst the wailing herds, the sisters trotted
	"She Who Races Across the Day,
"And
	"She Who Canters Across the Night,
"They beheld the weeping muddying the dust
"And listened to the neighed lamentations
...

"Anon,
	"She Who Canters Across the Night,
"Grew angry at the madness of the herds
"'Thou foals!  Thou idiots!  Canst thou not see?
		"'M'nemaxa, He Who Gallops the Edge,
"'Sees not thy foolish selves, thy herds, thy lands!
"'Hears not thy whinnies, thy neighs, thy whickers!
"'Cares not if thy world prospers or perishes.
"'Cease thy racket! Still thy tears!
"'Founder thyselves no more with this nonsense!
"'This foolishness has gone on for far too long!'

"Still the Houyhnhnm embraced their turmoil.
	"She Who Races Across the Day,
"Turned to her sister and spoke thus,
"'Dearest sister, I fear they cannot.
"'They know the terrible clawed Hoof of
		"M'nemaxa, He Who Gallops the Edge,
"'Will not trample their herds, their lands, their world.
"'Ignored not because of the mighty flanks
"'Of stalwart stallions, wise mares, and innocent foals,
"'But because they are nothing to such a creature.
"'That is why they grieve!'