The Barn on Fire

The barn on fire

I want to say the horses got out
but the tack smoldered, sticky
wax from years of saddle soap

rubbed in one direction
with a soft cloth

I want to say the horses escaped
but the hay crackled mercilessly
timothy shrunk to ash before
the heat, before the flame

pitched in stacks above
the stalls, the horses

I want to say the horses fled
I want to show you their manes
flying in the wind, shining