To Animals Who Serve In War

We owe so much to beasts who go
Unquestioning, to face the foe,
Upon their backs they bear their load,
Through swamp, and trench, and cobbled road.

Blinded, powerless to speak,
Blown up, shot at, wounded, weak,
Forever willing, dumb yet brave,
They follow soldiers to their grave.

Do we thank them, do we care?
The horse, the dog, the mule, who bear
The burdens we inflict each day,
The suffering that comes their way.

Without their help, we could not fight
For freedom that should be our right.
Let's honour those, whose loyalty
Assists us to be strong and free.