The Small Pony: A Short Narrative Poem and Ballad

May 14, 2026

The Small Pony: A Short Narrative Poem and Ballad

The Small Pony was written in response to Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #327. The photo by Natalia Pawlucka inspired the poem — and from it I sketched the quick illustration.

The image depicts a “young man walking a pony on a city street, showcasing urban equestrian life.” — The image is by Natalia Pawlucka.

The Small Pony

Digital pencil drawing sketched by Lesley Scoble from a photo by Natalia Pawlucka.

Gee up,
said the travelling man.
Is this the fastest 
you can go?
Raise your speed —
try not to trot so slow.

The pony
puts on a spurt;
he doesn’t want
the whip,
or hurt.

And trots
a steady pace
along the street
toward what
he must face.

We are late for market,
where you are to be bought and sold.

You are too small
to pull a caravan;
I’m only
a travelling man
who does as he is told.

The little pony flicks his tail —
he doesn’t know
he is for sale.


_{—Lesley Scoble, May 2026}

Audio — The Small Pony — Ballad 🎶

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to Melissa Lemay for her inspirational writing and poetry challenges.
Photo Prompt Image by Natalie Pawlucka.
And above all, my thanks to you, the reader, for spending this time with me.