A 'dying' profession.

Trimmin' and shoein,' his chosen vocation;
living as if on eternal vacation.
Essentials of the trade: shoes, nails, alcohol
(for building up broken down hooves) and a rasp.
He removes old shoes with horses leg grasped
hoping to keep the horse in proper alignment.

Wild horses adapt, unshod, or else they'd die;
domesticated ones need shoeing to thrive.
Every seven weeks hooves, like nails, need trims.
Farriers know horses are different--
some are mild mannered, others are discontent.
A farrier remains calm, and learns patience.

The last thing he felt was a hoof in his eye--
without a moments remembrance, no sigh.
The resonant ring, deep inside his heart, ceased . . .
dying as he lived with horses at his side
amongst tangs of horseflesh and scents of cowhide.
The farrier galloped on the steed of death.