Over the meadow bounds the skittish colt, 
And dashes in swift course the bord ring wave, 
Or scours the hollow of the lofty mount, 
And plashes through the stony stream unshod.
Fierce shines his comely front, his waving mane 
Wantons in wind, his ears prick quavering up.
From his round jetty head his ample eye 
Out standeth full; from his wide nostril darts 
The breath as if on flame; his curving neck
Stands lofty up, such as full forward bears 
The bird, whose voice bids lions stand in awe, 
Whose watchful note calls up the loit'ring morn.
Round-circling plump does swell his breast abroad, 
With courage fraught undaunted; high arise 
His even shoulders, ridging slender up.
And now his back the saddle well becomes.
Along his loins does double run the chine;
Thick flanks truss up his belly tight and smooth;
His buttocks in good liking spread themselves;
He cocks his tail rough-frisling full of hair;
The copious locks o’erflow his lusty neck, 
Down his right shoulder floating to and fro.
Bold does he turn his nimble shank around
Tied firm within a knee shaped round and long.
Fierce he bears forward with his look aloft, 
And prances stately neighing all the way.
His deep horn hollow hoof treads thund'ring down;
Resembling so the stamping dance and noise 
Of brazen cymbals loud, wherewith her priests 
Did celebrate the rites of Cybele.

George Farewell (fl. 1733) -  "The Country Man" from The New Oxford Book of Eighteenth-Century Verse


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#216: Poets, Prophets, Seeresses & Goddesses from Time & the River Human Voices Wake Us

An episode from 2/9/2026: This is the second episode where I read from my upcoming book Time and the River: From Columbine to the Invention of Fire, which comes out on February 23.This time, I read seven of my favorite poems from the point of view of women. They are:Mr Cassian’s Good Friend, Emily DickinsonVölvaSong to SequanaEponaThe Seeress of VixMiriamMorgan le FayAs I mention, more information about the continental Celtic goddesses Equana and Epona can be found in Miranda Green’s Myth and Symbol in Celtic Religious Art. My article on the burial at Vix is in issue #45 of Ancient World.The best way to support the podcast is by leaving a review on Apple or Spotify, sharing it with others, or sending me a note on what you think. You can also order any of my books: Time and the River: From Columbine to the Invention of Fire, due out next year, is now available for preorder. Other books include Notes from the Grid, To the House of the Sun, The Lonely Young & the Lonely Old, and Bone Antler Stone. I've also edited a handful of books in the S4N Pocket Poems series. I also have a YouTube channel where I share poems and excerpts from these books, mostly as YouTube shorts.Email me at humanvoiceswakeus1@gmail.com.
  1. #216: Poets, Prophets, Seeresses & Goddesses from Time & the River
  2. #215: 8 Favorite Poems from "Time and the River"
  3. #214: Two of the Best Poems You've Never Heard of (by William Cullen Bryant)
  4. #213: Van Gogh's Early Years
  5. #212: The Most Popular Story in Ancient India
  6. #211: Who Was William Cullen Bryant?
  7. #210: Memories & Legends of William Shakespeare
  8. #209 – Being a Jew in 1900, Being a Jew Now
  9. #208: Bach & God
  10. #207 – Death, the Gods, and Endless Life in Ancient Egypt

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