Billu

A steed he was, noble and great

We knew him not, yet we knew him well

Fate had blessed us with his presence

Why we deserved him, none can tell

Majestic in every step he took

And not one foot did he ever put wrong

No man can describe his value

Through oratory or through song

Descended he must be from royal lines

Yet he would never let you know

But an aura he carried quietly with him

And your respect for him would only grow

Ancient and wise he grew to be

Yet never his strength diminished

He walked ever, strong and proud

Until his time on earth was finished

We rode on him, an honor it was

An experience to remember, that he ensured

To even the most unskilled rider

A smooth ride was assured

It mattered not who needed his help

It mattered not who held the reigns

He was in control, he guided you

While exhilaration coursed through your veins

A simple act of riding a horse

Made to feel like an act of nobility

For we were merely the passengers

Witness to his awe inspiring abilities

Age seemed to affect him not

As it affected a common man

Nor should it have for he was Billu

The greatest steed that ever ran

His hair grew long, flowing free

Rivaling tales of Rapunzel

When he flew, it flew with him

And with his light footfall, it also fell

He was considered the best

By young and old, by one and all

Blessed was considered the ground

Where his holy foot would fall

His own breed would fall in step

Not daring to disrespect his grace

Wherever he went, they followed suit

In the kingdom of steeds, they knew their place

From Zanskar, they say, his origins are

Yet I feel strangely in my heart

He came not from a place known to us

But a world from ours apart

For no equal in twenty years

Of strength and grace have I seen

He stood alone on a pedestal

Erect and proud, as he’s ever been

He must have tired of normalcy

For he has decided to move on

As a result, from our midst

His reassuring presence is now gone

We cannot follow, we don’t deserve to

We must be content with our life

And remember that for thirty years

He was here to ease our strife

I pay respect, meaningless though it may be

To the horse that we all love

Absent he is from this world

I’ll look for him when I go up above...