How is the blacksmith compared to the horse in Felix Randal M Hopkins - poem Felix Randal written in shows the life and death of a blacksmith named Felix In this poem Felix Randal is compared to the horse He used to make shoes for horses when he was strong and healthy Felix s Strength Like the Horse Felix Randal was a strong big man before his illness In this poem the horse is a symbol A horse is a big and strong animal So the horse becomes the symbol of Felix Randal s strength and youthful energy The poet says Felix was a Mould of man big-boned and hardy-handsome This means Felix was powerful and looked healthy Felix used to shoe the great grey drayhorse A drayhorse is a big strong horse that can pull heavy loads So Felix was strong and powerful like a drayhorse before his illness