“Bell” a 13 year old Percheron

13 years old a mother horse
working her butt oh well of course
when your a Percheron
that’s what you do
you are work horse
some Arabian too
in the streets of New Hope
this a touristy town
clearly a carriage tour
really goes down
well with the people
and “Bell” did the tour
she was a tall horse
and clearly was sure
footed and strong
on these busy streets
where
bikers and theatre goers
did share
on the Delaware river
so lots there to see
going up Mechanic Street
she fell and died instantly
it may have been a seizure
who knows but I’m sure
animals working like this
get a raw
deal its incessant
and heavy work too
and Bell clearly gave up
what else could she do
could we communicate
how could she say
she wasn’t up to it
on that Friday
her daughter Betty
will pine for her she
will now get the jobs
we shall just wait and see
Percherons can live to 30
I hear
but working the streets
its obviously clear
its stressful and heavy work
and it seems to me
working these creatures
is unnecessary
we now have engines
why make a horse slave
in amongst all this stress
which in “Bell”s case was grave
a very sad passing
but what do they do
work till they drop
there, that is my view