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THE RACING STABLE

Looking ahead to the approach of another flat racing season.  Roll on!

 

Sunrise creeping, daylight peeping,

All is silent, all are sleeping.

 

Alarm clocks whirring, staff start stirring,

Farm dogs scratching, farm cats purring.

 

Voices muffled, sneezes snuffled,

Stairways creaking, footsteps shuffled.

 

Harness jingling, senses tingling,

Eggs and bacon and coffee mingling.

 

Boxes ready, horses heady,

Stable lads to hold 'em steady.

 

Race-day thrilling, race-course filling,

Mounts and jockeys keen and willing.

 

Trainers stressing: no more guessing,

Riders nodding, eyes assessing.

 

Steeds parading, promenading,

Hopes increasing, chances fading.

 

Race beginning, runners thinning

Till one leads and runs home winning

 

Trophy showing, connections glowing,

Applaud the champion. hot and blowing.

 

Gallant winner, what a skinner!

Paying for champagne and dinner.

 

Horses fed now, put to bed now,

See the weary human head bow.

 

Voices yawning, early morning,

Soon to rise again at dawning.

 

Sunrise creeping, daylight peeping,

All is silent, all are sleeping.

.....................................................................

◄ HERO AND COWARD

LADIES - YOU'RE HAVING A LAUGH ►

Comments

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M.C. Newberry

Thu 14th Mar 2019 17:34

JC, Kate, Josie and Jennifer - your kind comments are much appreciated. It helped that I have some inside knowledge of what it
means to share in a racing enterprise, with visits to stable and race-course in the memory to use to advantage in writing these lines.
Also, a sister has held a life-long love of horses and I remember how
she kept a pony for riding out when she was a young woman in rural Wiltshire, a long time ago now. We still exchange emails about
our equine/racing interests.

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jennifer Malden

Thu 14th Mar 2019 14:17

Fantastic writing! Congrats on POTW too - well deserved. Great ryhming which really builds up the excitement and tensions leading up to an important event. Have always loved horses, but apart from that will read it again and again to enjoy it. Well done again.

Jennifer

Josie Whitehead

Thu 14th Mar 2019 10:06

I'm always thrilled to know that another poet specializes in perfect metre and rhyme, as I do. I also love poems that paint pictures with words to capture the feeling within the poem - and yours does that excellently too. The rhythm isn't a gentle anapaestic rhythm, but a bouncy trochiac one that matches the mood of your poem beautifully. I'm not surprised that you have done well. Top marks!!!

<Deleted User> (19913)

Mon 11th Mar 2019 09:23

Wonderful MC, a well deserved POTW

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John Coopey

Mon 11th Mar 2019 09:20

I'm not a follower of the gg's, MC, but I do enjoy your poems, and this one captures the rhythm of a race day. I felt my reading quicken as the race unfolded. Top bombing and congrats on being POTW.

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M.C. Newberry

Wed 6th Mar 2019 15:13

Thanks, Don. I note the wonderful success of Aussie race mare Winx with that extraordinary total of Group One race wins. .

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Don Matthews

Wed 6th Mar 2019 08:32

I can hear the horses cantering in your lilting lines MC

Well done

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