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Let The Horses Die

Poems of Longing, Love, and Loss from 1997-2005

"Oh, that wasn't what I meant to say at all
From where I'm sitting, rain
Falling against the lonely tenement
Has led my mind to wander
Into the windows of my lovers
They never know, unless I write,
"This is no declaration, I just thought I'd let you know, goodbye"
Said the hero in the story,
"It is mightier than swords, I could kill you, sure
But I could only make you cry with these words..."

—"Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" by Belle & Sebastian

RELEASED IN MARCH 2006- "Let The Horses Die" is a collection of honest and thought-provoking poetry by Diana Tuorto. Ms. Tuorto has been writing fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction since the age of ten. Her poetry, novels and short stories often focus on animals (especially horses), love (lost and gained) and creative vignettes from everyday life. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing and History, Ms. Tuorto remains a dedicated writer and resides in New Jersey. She has other creative interests in Marketing and Web Design, and is an active volunteer with various local and worldwide non-profit organizations.

The poems in "Let The Horses Die" detail a young woman's journey from a teenager to adulthood, chronicling a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences along the way. From feelings of despair and anger come resilience and strength. Inspired by such notable poets as Edgar Allen Poe, Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Barrett Browning (to name a few), Ms. Tuorto's poems serve as a personal collection of moments that many young people have experienced.

Incredibly open and direct, this poetry collection includes Ms. Tuorto's best works, from a shy, seventeen year-old student to a mature twenty-five year-old.

Proceeds from Let The Horses Die benefit
Mylestone Equine Rescue, a non-profit New Jersey horse rescue!

OVER 500 COPIES SOLD!

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ORDER FROM THE AUTHOR- FREE AUTOGRAPHS / FREE SHIPPING / BULK RATES AVAILABLE!

To order a PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED copy for $12, which includes FREE SHIPPING in the US, please email Diana Tuorto at lunar_aradia@yahoo.com. Check or money order accepted.

Order TWO COPIES for a total of $20, which still includes FREE SHIPPING (US only)! The more books you buy, the greater the discount! Please email Diana today for your quote.

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CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING ONLINE RETAILERS:

Amazon.com- To order, click here!

Alibris.com- To order, click here!

Abebooks.com- To order, click here!

You can also order through BooksinPrint.com and GlobalBooksinPrint.com

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CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING LIBRARIES/BOOKSTORES:

The College of New Jersey Library (for checkout only)
Herman M. Ward Poetry Collection
2000 Pennington Road
Ewing, NJ 08628
(609) 771-1855

University of Pittsburgh Book Center
4000 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 648-1455

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Excerpts from Let The Horses Die:
2006 Copyright by Diana Tuorto

Let The Horses Die (2001)

I let a horse die today.
He wasn’t the only one.
I close my eyes, and I can see.
The hot, cramped pens,
Bodies crushed together,
Bodies worth less than a can of dog food.

I can hear the helpless whinnies,
As they echo against the steel ceiling.
And I know he’s there,
Waiting for us,
But we won’t come.

He’s wondering why he’s there now.
Why his soft bedding and food are gone.
Why the children he made happy,
Didn’t love him, didn’t come.
He’s swallowing dust for air now,
As he is slammed against the wall.
But he still hangs on after all these years,
Of fierce hits and violent tongues.

What did I give him in return?
Nothing that I promised.
I was working far too slowly,
To find him a place called home,
But he was shipped away in twilight,
Far away, to parts unknown.

But I was just too lazy,
To have someone save him.
I needed just one person,
And he could be alive.
But now, he stands there waiting.
And I would find him, if I could.

Two Virgins (2002)

What is your biggest fear?
Mine is to be lying next to a man,
Staring deeply into his eyes,
For the first time, I realize
That he loves me the same way I do,
Completely, no doubts or reasons why,
Or why it shouldn’t be,

At that moment, all the excuses and lies
I’ve used to cover myself from piercing looks
No longer protect me,
I am a naked virgin again, and so is he,
Exposed and terrified to breathe,
We’re on full display to each other,
There is no distance, nothing held back,
Finally.

You could never let yourself feel this way,
You’re petrified of honesty,
Your true self cowering under a façade of laughter,
And disapproving looks,
You will always be a lonely child,
Running from the monster underneath your bed,
Clutching your velvet blanket around your chest,
Eyes clamped tightly, as the demon
Showers you with kisses,
For they burn your skin, like alcohol to open wounds,

Still, I can no longer pretend to be a scaly beast,
Hiding in the depths, just waiting for my chance,
A single moment to strike, when you’re least expecting it,
I leave you here, alone and shivering with frost,
The lights are on, and you’re safe now…

Published by: BookSurge Publishing
Publication date: March 2006 
Paperback release only 
ISBN #: 1-4196-2670-1 
Price: $11.99

For updates on Diana's upcoming readings, book signings,
and other public appearances, please join her mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dianasmailinglist
(or use the sign up box below).

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Illustration by Karen Elizabeth Stober

LET THE HORSES DIE REVIEWS- CLICK HERE

BOOK SIGNING DATES- CLICK HERE