Darlan Poem by Paul Reed

The clouds seemed frozen in the sky
The sliver of moon hung its head
The world stopped turning for a moment
For the great Darlan was dead

As you raced over the town moor
Betwixt The Ruby and The Flame
You had no sense of what was to come
As you played your waiting game

McCoy so careful to shield you
From the head wind you ran protected
But tragedy stood foursquare ahead
The suddenness of the end undetected

Only the last hurdle to jump
The next step the hurdling crown
But that next step was to be your last
And to the ground you fell down

The excited shouts died in hoarse throats
Now only sadness to dwell upon
Racegoers trudged home in despair
For the great Darlan was gone