Every once in a while
I face this dilemma
Whether to look out
For the human
Or the horse
He seems to own
Both of them
Working all day long
Carrying tourists on the small carriage
In the town
Also owned by humans
Although made on the land of nature
Which was supposed
To be owned by all
I, too, came to this town
From another such town
As a tourist
I, too, wanted to ride that small carriage
When approached by the horse's human
I was waiting
I was looking
Only at that little, fragile horse
One feet red swollen
Veins visible on its forehead
Its eyes half covered
It saw me looking, it looked back
Once or twice
I wonder if it sensed what I felt
As horses are said to feel a human's emotions
I wonder if it knew
How bad I felt
Sharing the species
With its human
I almost made up my mind
I won't participate in this tourist activity
But I saw the human come to the horse
Caressing it, he said something I couldn't hear
It seemed to be words of affection and care
By the look on his face
Not anymore, did they seem like
The slave and its owner
But more like companions
In the journey of life
In need of one another
It clicked me in that moment
It was not as easy as it looked
It was too much blame to put on that human
The blame of caging freedom
Of that horse and that human
Of us all
Lies on all of humankind
Not only on that single poor human
As little and fragile as his horse
Weary and Sweaty
Trapped in poverty
Yet he smiled as he caressed his horse
Gave it some greens to eat
So then I decided
To ride that small carriage
Not because, ten minutes ago, it was a desire of mine
But because, I wanted to give more of that smile and greens
To that human and that horse
I wanted my family to be happy
So we rode and paid
We had our fun and they had their livelihood
But when I look back
I can see
I could've done better
I could've given what little I had
Without riding as I didn't need to
It could've been a break
For that human and his horse
If only I could've been
A little more considerate
If only I could've been
A little more aware
Of my own principles
Now all I can do is wait
For that next little moment
And do better
- V