Reading this brought a tear to my eye

[Bazzak]

His legs were broke, his wounds did bleed,

The soldier called him ‘Noble Steed’,

And put a bullet through his brain.

Then the soldier kneeling down,

Bent his head and cried,

‘You were the noblest beast of all,

Did your duty - answered the call’,

And I am filled with grateful pride

Through all the charges you carried me,

And never did you falter.

Though bullets whistled past your side,

And many men and horses died,

Your pace would never alter.

And so my friend this isgoodbye,

I’ve done my best for you,

I’ve sent you to a safer place,

Where horses graze in gentle grace,

And wish I could go too.

Then in the sky above all noise,

He heard a singing lark.

He felt it was an Angel’s song,

And knew his life would not be long,

As the sniper’s bullet hit its mark.

They found them lying side by side,

A soldier and his noble Steed,

What sacrifice by man and beast,

Too high a price to pay for peace,

More than God and Man agreed.

(Grantham)