The horse is well and truly dead
What's more, it has been for some time
It wouldn't take a vet to see this.

It no longer smells of sweat
There is no pulse in its neck
No rhythmic flare in its nostrils

It is no doubt starting to rot
Maggots now gather
The shell that was its body is on the verge of collapse

Yet I cannot for the life of me
I cannot stop
I beat it incessantly

I flog it day and night
It has no blood to bleed
Yet I beat it still

I hope for it to live
For its eyes to shine again
For warmth to return to its flesh

I do this because I must
My heart won't let me stop
My **** heart

The sun catches its eye
I see the glimmer and think with glee "it lives."
The sun then passes behind a cloud and it is dead once more.

I beat the dead horse
I have to
I must.