The Horse

A sparrow hopped about the street,

And he was not a bit afraid;

He flew between a horse's feet,

And ate his supper undismayed:

I think myself the horse knew well

The bird came for the grains that fell.

For his eye was looking down,

And he danced the corn about

In his nose-bag, till the brown

Grains of corn were tumbled out;

And I fancy that he said,

"Eat it up, young Speckle-Head!"

The driver then came back again,

He climbed into the heavy dray;

And he tightened up the rein,

Cracked his whip and drove away.

But when the horse's ribs were hit,

The sparrow did not care a bit.

The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Adventures of Seumas Beg [1915]