She stood sixteen hands proud and strong
grey with black mane
a young horse just arrived from England
fresh and innocent
from the safety of home to the battle front
taken by the army
to carry the Captain upon her sturdy back
heading the attack!
Far from her master who she knew from birth
the open fields to roam
into the bloodbath of war of mud and death
a multitude of animals
keeping the war machine in constant motion
dying with the soldiers
interacting in human conflicts had no choice
no rights or voice!
This was a time of man and animals integrating
shown much kindness
even more brutality in of war of young lives lost
horses worked mercilessly
until they fell with the soldiers the proud mare
was tough and stubborn
wanting to be home from those she was taken
for so many were forsaken!
After this barbaric war had finally come to an end
there were eight million
horses mules and donkeys killed in their service
to assist perpetual greed
many were sold for meat but thankfully thousands
came back to blighty
the proud mare whose name was Belle was saved
her bravery praised!
Bruised and scared she came returned to the farm
she loved and knew
to open spaces free from noise and destruction
shells and shrapnel
the army officer to came home and kept in touch
both never to forget
those times of depravity and this futile carnage
of mans endless rage!
Belle lived happily until she succumbed to age!
#TheFoureyedPoet.