Standing along the stone fence
in the late afternoon shadow
of Auchnanure Castle, as friends
made their way up the narrow
stone stairs to gaze out over
the Irish field in which we stood.
We watched horses in the adjacent field
dash wildly toward us as if saying
“damn the old stones, here is the photo
for which you came to Ireland.” Or
saying “let us show you what
true freedom actually looks like
when you throw off the mantle
of tourist propriety you choose
to wear as a second skin whenever
you find yourself visiting a new land.”
For half an hour we watched them play
three, then five, cavorting like children
when our friends appeared and they ran.
We shuffled back to the car and set off
to the next site on our planned tour.
The cat, in full, headlong rush,
her paws like miniature hooves
dashing across the wood plank
floor for the cat window pulled
me back into the late afternoon
of another too hot day in Florida.