The point of the horseman is that
Nothing about him is real -- not his flag
Nor his boots nor his shouted message. -
Even his horse, white and lathered after galloping
All the way from Constantinople --
Is made up because it would be cruel
To make a man run so far without
A horse to keep him company.
Since first I heard of them -- horse and man
In a high school history class long ago
They have periodically visited me
Waving their red flag, the horseman
Standing in his stirrups and shouting
CONSTANTINOPLE HAS FALLEN TO THE TURKS;
THE MIDDLE AGES ARE OVER! This surprises
The people in my regularly scheduled dream
Which takes place in Heian Japan and is part
Of an occasional series curated by Lady Murasaki.
The inquiring ask "Who are the Turks?
What is Constantinople?" The active ones
Run after the horse, hoping he knows
Where he's going or at least a way
Leading out of the dream.
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