Riding Lesson

Every poem is a message from its writer. In the past, poets often stated that message openly, tacking it on at the end of the poem. Today poets generally try to let their readers discover the messages for themselves. In this way, poets invite us to join directly in their experience. Read “Riding Lesson” aloud at least once. Then, read the questions they will help you discover the poem’s wisdom or message.

Riding Lesson I learned two things from an early riding teacher. He held a nervous filly In one hand and gestured 5 with the other, saying, “Listen. Keep one leg on one side, the other leg on the other side, and your min in the middle.” He turned and mounted. 10 She took two steps, then left the ground, I thought for good. But she came down hard, humped her back, swallowed her neck, and threw her rider as you’d 15 throw a rock. He rose, brushed his pants and caught his breath, and said, “See that’s the way to do it. When you see they’re gonna throw you, get off.”

1. What does the title suggest the poem will be about?

2. Who is speaking in the poem?

3. What does the word filly (line 3) mean?

Vocabulary Swallowed; dip, or bend. Humped her back, swallowed her neck. Filly; young female horse. He held a nervous filly in one hand. Mount; climbing onto a horse. He turned and mounted. Nervous; scared. He held a nervous filly in one hand and gestured with the other.