Geburtstag, the Andalusian

I've decided to call this horse Geburtstag. He's a fantastic gift I was given today from my husband for my birthday, and he'll shortly join the others on the top shelf. When I was a kid I was totally horse mad. I still have a vast collection of model horses all tucked away in a pair of suitcases somewhere. I still love horses but realise that I don't really have the time and energy to look after one properly, which is unfortunate because I'm sure if I ever bought one I'd find the time etc. When I was a kid and travelling anywhere, I used to have an imaginary horse that used to run along side the train or the car, leaping fences and galloping across fields. It used to graze on the school playing field while I was in classes as well. That was secondary school - which is a little worrying, in retrospect! I still imagine him running along side the train when I go anywhere, but I won't tell if you don't!

His hooves beat the ground, sounding the heartbeat of the earth,
He speeds across the ground, sparks fly from flint and stone
The wind tugs his mane, a river of hair caught in the currents
The child, safe on his back, rides the spirit of life and bone.