Black Tom

A sturdy black creature as black as a crow
Compared to a fast horse his fastest gallop slow
His big heavy hooves echoed on the tar road
But he was one who could pull a heavy load

Black Tom was a work horse quite stocky and strong
One who could work without tiring in the fields all day long
But he was one who was not known to be mild
Not one who would make a good pet for a child

In his temper tantrums he would kick and bite
A kick or a nip from a horse can be painful and make for an ugly sight
Tom was not a gentle horse in any way
One who did have his angry moods every day

His favourite food with hay mangels and fodder beet
Which he bit into with a crunching noise with his strong and sharp teeth
But back in the mid fifties in the pre tractor day
One who earned his keep of him one might say

He was far from gentle ill mannered and rough
But as a working horse he was good enough
And memories of  Black Tom with me do remain
As he pulled the horse harrow breaking earth clods for grain.