From time to time, people tell me,
"lighten up, it's just a horse,"
or "that's a lot of money for just a horse".
They don't understand
the distance traveled,
the time spent,
or the costs involved
for "just a horse".
Some of my proudest moments
have come about with
"just a horse".
Many hours have passed
and my only company was
"just a horse",
but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments
have been brought about by
"just a horse",
and in those days of darkness,
the gentle touch of
"just a horse"
gave me comfort
and reason to overcome the day
If you, too, think it's "just a horse",
then you will probably not understand phrases like,
"just a friend",
"just a sunrise",
or "just a promise"
"Just a horse" brings into my life
the very essence of friendship,
trust,
and pure unbridled joy
"Just a horse" brings out the compassion
and patience
that make me a better person
Because of "just a horse"
I will rise early,
take long walks
and look longingly into the future
So for me, and folks like me,
it's not "just a horse"
but an embodiment of all the hopes
and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past,
and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a horse" brings out what's good in me
and diverts my thoughts away from myself
and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand
that it's not "just a horse"
but the thing that gives me humanity
and keeps me from being
"just a woman" or "just a man"
So the next time you hear the phrase
"just a horse",
just smile because they
"just don't understand"