Horse Transport

Horses are not for war.
Perhaps for the sabre-slash
of the hunting-field, 
or a white-lathered dash
into clay-thick farmyards,
or the soft-silver slide
of Imperial Reviews.

But not for the uphill slog
as pack transport,
the noise, mud, shell-sliver
scream of beast panic
as artillery-fire rains down.

Their soft quivering noses
are too pure, too soft,
too velvety-kind.
Only Man deserves
brute suffering.