As I hung on to his neck

On that stormy spring morning

The clouds popped out of the way:

I buried my face into his brightness

My palomino

My Charlie

My Shield

I took refuge with him

Often

He held me with those deep, brown eyes

He covered me with serenity

(As I had not known Peace)

His chin was whiskery-soft

And he’d rest his face

On my shoulder

Charlie

The giver of Peace

You let me wear you like a shield

And when I was ready to step into battle, once more

You cloaked me with your

Liquid sunshine,

Spilling into my heart and filling in all the cracks,

Making me whole.