The Horses' Word Poem by Sheena Blackhall

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First in the field of equine heroes, Bucephalas,
Steed of the Great Alexander, warrior chief
Next, Marengro, Napoleon's War Horse, an Arab Grey
Neck & neck with Copenhagen, Wellington's stallion,
Who took him into the smoke of the cannon spray

Our most high ranking peer was Incitatus
Caligula's pet, kept in a marble stall, who ate from an ivory manger
With his jewelled collar, his oats mixed with gold leaf
Who almost became a consul, was any horse stranger?

We enjoy engaging in exercise, on our terms
Walking, trotting, cantering, galloping, jumping
Spurs and whips and kicking make us squirm

We feature in books, in comics, and in the media:
Black Beauty, Morpurgo's Joey in World War One
Virgil's Trojan statue, the Celtic goddess Epona
Hengroen, King Arthur's steed
Hippocampus, who pulled the chariot of Poseidon
In the lochs and rivers of Scotland, of kelpies, a plethora
The Mares of Diomedes, which fed on human flesh
Not to mention the Nuckelavee, Orcadian horse with no skin
And Pegasus, Greek winged horse, who rode the wind

From a lesser stable, Trigger, trots out in film
Followed by Argo, from Xena: Warrior Princess
And Champion the Wonder Horse, on thundering limbs

Hail Hercules, Steptoe and Son's rag and bone cart puller
Plodding in front comes Phantom, Zorro's white horse
Silver, the Lone Ranger's partner, money spinner
Khan, from Disney's Mulan,
Whole herds of Little Ponies, Unicorns
Every one a winner

Shall we consider some many names of our tribes?
Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clydesdale, Corsican, Cob,
American Paint, American Quarter Warmblood
Belgian Trotter, Black Forest, Breton, Coldblood,

Russian Don, Dutch Harness Faroe, Saddlebred,
Finnish, Flemish, mustang, Florida Cracker
French Trotter, Georgian Grande, and Gypsy Vanner
Hackney, Jennet, Hunter Kazakh Knabstrupper

Morgan, Pampa, Tersk and Shetland Pony
Coffin Bay Pony, Connemara, Dartmoor
Garron, palomino, feral, draught horse
Hack, show hunter, circus, Mountain, Exmoor

Polo and jousting favourite sports of kings
Windsor Grey, the carriage horse of Royalty.
Charger, Courser, Hobby, Palfrey, Racer
Hearse-black-plumed, slow, ponderous, melancholy
Dressage, Derby, Epsom, Goodwood, Aintree
Horse and Hounds fox hunt fraternity

Any restraints are anathema to us. It's a big fat no to
Bridle, crupper, martingale, halter, reins
Collar, harness. swingletree, breeching, hames
Traces, saddle, girth, back bands
Blinkers, bits, curb, snaffle, any tack
Saddle, britching, stirrups, should all be banned

Who speaks up for our equine brotherhood?
Farm horses, Drays, police mounts, canal boat luggers
Jockeys' racers, eventers, forest loggers?

Look to the future, your world in conflagration
We are the horses of the Apocalypse
Bringing our spirit riders, bearing annihilation
Death. Famine War and Pestilence
All that is known and unknown, extermination