Last Kick, The Horse Poem by Simbarashe Raymond Mudukuti

We sat at the table like always
The day seemed like a normal one but one thing wasn't
He looked shy as if he had words that he couldn't utter
Dinner was served and full we were
He went to sleep like every other day
I am not a homer
I don't like staying in closed doors when I have nothing to do
On my way I was to meet a friend

News reached my ears
The old man wasn't feeling well
On my way I was to check the situation
He seemed normal
Thought he was pretending
Don't judge me on that because he is a man who liked attention
When you don't give it to him, he will search it for himself
And yes we gave him the attention

He called my name twice
Help me he said
How I wondered
Honestly I didn't know how
Had he eaten anything, I don't know
How he could still be pretending, I wondered
Hadn't we given him what he wanted?
Hopeless was the look on his face

In my arm he was
Everyone didn't want to handle the case no more
For he looked hopeless
In my arms he took his last breath
In my arms I shed my own tears
A pool of tears created a lake
My eyes were the source
I couldn't let my little brother see this
Away I ordered him
He didn't even know what was happening
The old man waved goodbye