BLACKIE THE HORSE
Lazily the old horse munched on his feed,
He was no longer a great fast running steed,
His steps no longer firm steady and light,
The whiskers around his mouth were white.

Yet his black coat still gleamed in the sun,
Head he still held high as if a race he’d won,
His old heart beat faster when master came along,
Always came to him first in the horse throng.

He was by far the oldest by many a long year,
The young ones liked of the old days to hear,
The races he had won by a good length or more,
Winning blue ribbons still over his stable door.

When his master came he had sadness in his eye
And mistress was with him and she began to cry,
We’ve had him since a foal we can’t let him go,
He is part of the family and we all love him so.

They brushed his mane, it still shone blue black,
Not one hair was out of place along his big back,
His hooves were polished and he was newly shod,
He galloped round the field, though old he didn’t plod.

We cannot afford to keep him so he has to be sold,
Everyone loved this horse with a true heart of gold,
He seemed to understand all their hurt and pain,
And he wished he was young and useful once again.

The buyer said he would get him at the end of the week,
Everyone was glad that they had a little more time to keep
Their friend, in the night his heart broke, he passed away
He could not bear to be parted from family even for a day.

(Millicent) Ann Margetson 2 February 2004