Once I was afraid of you
Once I was mystified by you
And at last I am so honored
A few years ago I was riding down my usual trek on Highway 72 through the open farmland of Limestone County. It was early morn and glorious streams of rising misty dew reflected light as if the earth were a living, breathing, moving being. I was on my way to work and not in a particularlly happy frame of mind for it, somewhat burdened by my load. But on that day I saw a sight forever frozen in my memory and understanding. It was a funeral for a friend.
In the wide expanse of open pasture lay a horse. To my suddenly naked and painful awareness, lifeless. Gone. Departed.
Around this magnificant fallen creature stood a circle of beasts like unto their hallowed friend, heads bowed low in silent reverance. Each horse stood a silent sentinal, a lingering sadness, a ferverent hope, a guardian from the past, a gateway to the future. But most of all, it struck me, a beloved friend.
now heavily weighed 'neath burden their own
Know more this day than unhailed captors
Able to mourn this friend now gone
Able to speak what no man hears
Able to hear, no man can speak
Able to cry to unseen spirits
Able to honor, able to weep
I passed this scene in the wink of an eye
And yet learned more that I could tell
I'll always know what they were feeling
My friend, my commrade, my brother fell
And we could naught stave off this darkness
And we could naught prevent this end
Thus what we have, we sadly offer
Our unsung funeral for a friend 
You lived next door to this child
and were so powerful
You appeared in my dreams
and were so magnificant
to have known you
