Winners And Losers! Poem by Denis Martindale

Is every horse a racehorse, a winner born and bred?
I must confess this truth, of course. Some lead! And some get led.
While jockeys want to win each race, each horse does what it can.
And that's the hard truth all must face when facts don't fit the plan.
While teamwork often plays its part, the jockey takes control,
He's there, of course, right from the start, in spirit, body and soul.
His mind's now set, as horses run, like lightning bolts set free!
And though the race has just begun, what outcome will there be?
And side-by-side, the jockeys ride! Full strides to beat the rest!
Yet only one horse can provide the proof that it's the best!

The horse breathes hard. Its muscles ache. For each race, win or lose.
The jockey stands and takes a break, regardless of the news.
Who knows which horse God meant to win, as if at any cost?
Yet there's one horse that won't give in! That's why the others lost!
Winners and losers in the crowd who wagered what they could,
Now cheer or sneer their fates out loud! New lessons understood.
A losing bet is such a chore, but their greed got them caught!
Gamblers all, and not much more, not lovers of the sport!
I gave up follies such as this so many years ago,
Without a single parting kiss, and with one word said, 'No! '

I still love horses to this day, whether they're great or small,
And know this love will always stay a treasured miracle!


Denis Martindale.29th June 2025.