The Unexpected Visitor

I had never seen the strange man
who led him on a frayed tether,
did not know why he tied

the roan to my gate
and with a quick blessing, brisk pat
walked hard away.

Then I held his soft muzzle
to slip in the steel,
pull up the leather bridle.

A strong back and steady run
revealed more than truth.
I could feel his teeth

wrestling with the bit,
restless in the gray skein of dawn.
The wind was gift enough for me.