For dVerse Poets Pub 21.04.2026

In response to dVerse Poets Pub: https://wp.me/p1GTyJ-8ZQ

Between Movement and Watchfulness

The horse does not question the road.
It moves—muscle, breath,
a quiet agreement
with distance.

The man above it
is something else.

Not part of the field,
not part of the sky—placed there,
like a line drawn across the land.

I cannot tell
if he is arriving
or leaving.

The brushstrokes do not settle.
They flicker—
as if even the moment
refuses to stay still.

There is space around them,
but not freedom.

The horse runs,
yet something holds the scene
in place.

And I wonder—
what it means
to move
without ever truly
being free.

— Maggie
The Afterlove Voice 💫

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23 responses to “Between Movement and Watchfulness”

  1. petrujviljoen Avatar

    Truly appreciated this. You described the scene really well. ” … the man … like a line drawn upon the land” – wow!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you for your kind words 💜

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Gillena Cox Avatar
    Gillena Cox

    “a quiet agreement
    with distance.”

    Bravo! excellent zuihitsu 

    much love

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you Gillena 💜 😘

      Like

  3. erbiage Avatar

    maggie this is great : a quiet agreement
    with distance.

    and that ending is incredible, to move without freedom.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you 💜. I was thinking about both the rider and horse.

      Like

  4. kim881 Avatar

    That’s a fitting title for the painting and your poem, Maggie. I love how you compare the horse with the man, that you didn’t speculate on meaning or event but focused on the painting itself, drawing your reader’s eye with words, and only commenting on your own thoughts about it in the final lines. I love the phrase ‘muscle, breath, a quiet agreement with distance’, and the exploration of movement in ‘The brushstrokes do not settle. They flicker—as if even the moment refuses to stay still.’

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Maggie Avatar

    Thank you Kim 💜. Happy my words could draw you in .

    Like

  6. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I love how you captured the movement without freedom and the man without a proper place… I saw somehting different but also similar in that painting.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you Bjőrn 💜.
      It’s an amazing painting .

      Like

  7. Mish Avatar

    Love the depths of which you explored movement and space in this piece. This is wonderful.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you Mish 💜. Happy you liked it .

      Like

  8. Melissa Lemay Avatar

    Amazing, Maggie! I love your exploration of the brushstrokes. I especially loved:

    “a quiet agreement
    with distance.” and

    “And I wonder—
    what it means
    to move
    without ever truly
    being free.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you so much Melissa 💜.
      Made me happy to hear .

      Liked by 1 person

  9. poetisatinta Avatar

    Great Maggie I selected this one too – I love how you end the piece🙌

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you Ange 💜. Yours was excellent 😘

      Liked by 1 person

      1. poetisatinta Avatar

        Thanks Maggie 🙏

        Liked by 1 person

  10. ms pie Avatar

    loved your reflection to the painting… indeed he does appear frozen in time as everything else is in the background…. every line was heavy with thought as the words performed… usually horses are portrayed with strength…. even tho he’s moving he’s not…. beautiful poem…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you so much 💜. I used my observations with have had horses.

      Like

  11. Carol anne Avatar

    Awesome poem Maggie really breathtaking! 💜💜🤗🤗

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you so much 💜 💜

      Like

  12. purplepeninportland Avatar

    Wonderful interpretation of this painting, Maggie!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maggie Avatar

      Thank you so much 💜 Your comment made me happy 😊

      Like

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