Beast Of Burden Poem by Stevie Smith

He halted..

Snuffing the air, he turned tail and galloped off.

Still,
Without much delay,
We gallantly dragged our efforts; shooting at the poor beast in hot pursuit

I was unwilling in this sport.

In my heart of hearts I hoped instead we might manage to tame him.
This Mighty Majestic Beast of Burden was too rare to see Death.

But once our chase had been executed the noose in our hands drew tight,
Ensnaring the monster in our trap as we had him.

We had him cornered.
The Beast was upon the ground-doomed.
The animal was at all our mercy.

I felt some repugnance at paining the animal-but those were the orders.
This was a case of necessity-this was kill or be killed.