First Past The Post - The Grand National
Let’s bet on a horse
to finish the course.
Let’s win an amount,
to boost our account.
The jockeys are light,
and sunshine is bright,
The bookmakers shout,
All trying to tout.
Sleek fillies parade,
Fortunes to be made.
The stalls are all filled.
The thrills start to build.
They’re off down the straight,
not knowing their fate.
A few go ahead,
but most fall instead.
Excitement now mounts,
It’s winning that counts.
Just one lap to go.
Oh, gosh, what a show.
The race has been won.
Gee, watching was fun.
Celebrations now.
winner takes a bow.
The others, next year,
must move up a gear.
And try hard once more,
to even the score.
For first past the post,
what’s yearned for the most.
poem by Ernestine Northover
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Lesson From The Horse Race
There's no such thing as gallant loser and there's no glory in defeat
And coming first is all that matter and victory is always sweet
For the winning horse and jockey there's a mighty hip hooray
And the jockey he is smiling victory has made his day.
The stable lad leads in his winner he has never known such joy
And the owner pats his race horse as if to say well done me boy
And there's applause for the winning trainer from the large onlooking crowd
And the horse is centre of attention and those who backed him clapping loud.
Near by stands the beaten favourite held there by his stable lad
And with no trace of the horse's owner and the trainer looking sad
In a thrilling photo finish beaten into second place
But he get little recognition for running such a splendid race.
Human life is like the horse race at winning post you've got to lead
Losers are quickly forgotten and to be loved you must succeed
You must strive hard for your glory and if you fail in your vital test
You too will be quick forgotten as winners are remembered best
And there's a lesson from the horse race and it read plain for all to see
If you live for admiration go for outright victory
And you will be the main attraction and all the applause will be for you
And like the poor defeated race horse there will be none for number two.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Straight Ahead
Day by day, dream by dream.
I fight to find the way to go.
Every day opens a different door.
Every dream shadows the one before.
But slowly I can see
The way youve made for me.
Straight ahead, I can see your light.
Straight ahead, through the dark.
Straight ahead, theres no left or right.
Straight ahead, to your heart.
Carry on through the night,
When the road is hard to find.
Lying lights tell me to turn around.
Lying thoughts tell me Im lost not found.
But clearly I can see
Youre waiting there for me.
Straight ahead, I can see your light.
Straight ahead, through the dark.
Straight ahead, theres no left or right.
Straight ahead, to your heart.
Straight ahead, (straight ahead),
Straight ahead, (straight ahead),
Straight ahead, (straight ahead),
Straight ahead, (straight ahead).
Straight ahead (straight ahead), I can see your light.
Straight ahead, through the dark (through the dark).
Straight ahead, theres no left or right.
Straight ahead, to your heart.
Straight ahead....
song performed by by Amy Grant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Path Of Mirrors
They walk so close to you, yet so far away
Their eyes are lost, their faces fixed like stone
They walk behind the mirrors and here they shall stay
You walk with other souls liveng, breathing, yet for them they are alone
You walk through the hall way down the path of glass
You watch as they walk on into eternity, into the dark
They walk there behind the glass,
People around you going through leaving their mark.
They walk past your reflection as if you never saw
They walk through time as if time weren’t there
They know you would never aproach them
They know you would never dare.
They walk through the glass and look straight ahead,
They know nothing lies ahead, yet they know they can not turn back,
So they walk into nothing instead,
Passing you so all you see is their back.
You pause infront of the glass looking looking past,
You know that you shall not join them you know it is not your fate
You think about the footsteps you take, wondering which shall be your last,
You walk on again only thinking of their fate
Their faces emotionless the souls so cold,
You think of how you own skin feels, so warm,
You watch as the move like action figures made from a mold,
All the same, all waiting out the storm
The storm of life, the storm of death,
You walk along side them as they walk past everyone,
They watch ahead never turning, never looking above,
They turn to noone.
You walk along beside them as they take no notice to lifes dance,
They only walk past, walk through the mirrors of fate,
Kepping one great stance,
You watch people finding their fate.
Their faces so still, alone in the world, without hope
You watch them walk on, you watch them pass
You see their unmoving faces, as they walk up the endless slope
They walk along, behind the glass.
You turn to watch as their souls move on,
You reach out your hand to touch the glass,
Only to feel the glass is gone,
You watch as your hand passes through the glass.
As you hand melts through one by one the spirits turn,
One takes your hand and pulls your arm through,
More spirits feel your presence and more turn,
They watch as you melt through.
You watch your world leave as you leave it,
You have found you fate and not you are here along with them,
They walk on as you pull your body through, leaving behind the sweater of life you knit,
You have come and joined them.
You look back at the mirror to look at your face,
And you see your eyes becoming lost,
As you enter their race,
The race that shall never end, the race through eternity, for now you are lost
You skin feels so cold you face feels so hard,
You walk with them, as one
As you emotions turn hard,
In true time you are done.
You walk with them, walk alone
They walk so close to you, yet so far away
As everything becomes an endless drone,
For now you are here to stay.
poem by Bethany Maxwell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Ghost Horse
Sitting on the window ledge
Staring straight ahead
I see you grazing in the field
The sun shining bright
And the sky a baby blue
Clouds no where to be seen
He must really love you
You wander off
Just out of sight
Behind the light pink blossom tree
I am drawn to you
I race, I run,
But I’m to late
Where have you gone?
I see you by the water stream
So quiet, so peaceful
And so magnificent
Your moves are like an angel
They almost float and fly
Your coat sparking in the sun
Your mane a radiant white
Your standing over me
Nudging me…..
I don’t know what to do
I put down my pencil and pad
And leap on your back
And you set off
So here we are
Racing through the field
Hunters go past
The hunters are gone
Yet I see a horse
Its rider face down in the mud
A Whinny but no scream
Sitting on the window ledge
staring straight ahead
Now I watch that hunters horse
because that horse lost its rider
I asked around
Yet noone knew of a horse
With a coat that sparkled in the sun
With a mane a radiant white
and till this say, i swear ill see you again
poem by Megzii Invisable
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At Grass
There is a cheering crowd in the stands
with some people waving betting cards
while majestically they thunder past
in bright colours with jockeys
standing in the stirrups, bending low
running the distance at full speed.
Some people cheer with joy,
while cameras flash, video cameras record
others disappointed, sit down
waiting for the next race
while crowds of empty cars
wait outside and women parade
their dresses as if on show.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Shakespeare on the Turf
SCENE I
SCENE: The saddling paddock at a racecourse.
Citizens, Battlers, Toffs, Trainers, Flappers, Satyrs, Bookmakers and Turf Experts.
Enter Shortinbras, a Trainer, and two Punters.
FIRST PUNTER: Good Shortinbras, what thinkest thou of the Fav'rite?
SHORTINBRAS (aside): This poltroon would not venture a ducat
on David to beat a dead donkey; a dull and muddy-mettled rascal.
(To Punter): Aye marry Sir, I think well of the Favourite.
PUNTER: And yet I have a billiard marker's word
That in this race to-day they back Golumpus,
And when they bet, they tell me, they will knock
The Favourite for a string of German Sausage.
SHORTINBRAS: Aye, marry, they would tell thee, I've no doubt,
It is the way of owners that they tell
To billiard markers and the men on trams
Just when they mean to bet. Go back it, back it!
(Tries to shuffle off, but Punter detains him.)
PUNTER: Nay, good Shortinbras, what thinkest thou of Golumpus?
Was it not dead last week?
SHORTINBRAS: Marry, sir, I think well of Golumpus.
'Tis safer to speak well of the dead: betimes they rise again.
(Sings)
They pulled him barefaced in the mile,
Hey, Nonny, Nonny.
The Stipes were watching them all the while;
And the losers swear, but the winners smile,
Hey, Nonny, Nonny.
Exit Shortinbras.
SECOND RUNTER: A scurvy knave! What meant he by his prate
Of Fav'rite and outsider and the like?
Forsooth he told us nothing. Follow him close.
Give him good watch, I pray you, till we see
Just what he does his dough on. Follow fast.
Exeunt Punters
SCENE II
The same. Bookmakers call: 'Seven to Four on the Field!'
'Three to One, Bar One!' 'Ten to One, Golumpus.'
Enter Two Heads.
FIRST HEAD: How goes the battle? Did thou catch the last?
SECOND HEAD: Aye, marry did I, and the one before,
But this has got me beat. The Favourite drifts,
And not a single wager has been laid
About Golumpus. Thinkest thou that both are dead?
Re-enter Punters
PUNTER: Good morrow, Gentlemen. I have it cold
Straight from the owner, that Golumpus goes
Eyes out to win today.
FIRST HEAD: Prate not to me of owners. Hast thou seen
The good red gold Go in. The Jockey's Punter
Has he put up the stuff, or does he wait
To get a better price. Owner say'st thou?
The owner does the paying, and the talk;
Hears the tale afterwards when it gets beat
And sucks it in as hungry babes suck milk.
Look you how ride the books in motor cars
While owners go on foot, or ride in trams,
Crushed with the vulgar herd and doomed to hear
From mouths of striplings that their horse was stiff,
When they themselves are broke from backing it.
SCENE III
Enter an Owner and a Jockey
OWNER: 'Tis a good horse. A passing good horse.
JOCKEY: I rose him yesternoon: it seemed to me
That in good truth a fairly speedy cow
Might well outrun him.
OWNER: Thou froward varlet; must I say again,
That on the Woop Woop course he ran a mile
In less than forty with his irons on!
JOCKEY: Then thou should'st bring the Woop Woop course down here.
OWNER: Thou pestilential scurvy Knave. Go to!
Strikes him.
Alarms and excursions. The race is run and Shortinbras enters,
leading in the winner.
FIRST PUNTER: And thou hast trained the winner, thou thyself,
Thou complicated liar. Didst not say
To back Golumpus or the Favourite!
SHORTINBRAS: Get work! For all I ever had of thee
My children were unfed, my wife unclothed,
And I myself condemned to menial toil.
PUNTER: The man who keeps a winner to himself
Deserves but death. (Kills him)
Enter defeated Owner and Jockey.
OWNER: Thou whoreson Knave: thou went into a trance
Soon as the barrier lifted and knew naught
Of what occurred until they neared the post.
(Kills him)
Curtain falls on ensemble of punters, bookmakers,
heads and surviving jockeys and trainers.
poem by Andrew Barton Paterson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Holiday At Race Course
Went to race course dismissing idea of casino.
It was really something different to go.
I was excited to watch some thing live
instead losing in gamble in smoky light.
Horse race, a joint work of man and animal,
again a combination of sports and gamble.
Accompanied my friend who was bit experienced,
he selected racetrack and horse to win the bet.
The pony looked having better winning chance
judged he was happy, peppy and eager to race.
Jockey was also smart and had good ride style
I did nothing but followed my friend with smile.
I too dared to risk my ten dollars on same pony,
it was unknown, on whom we put the money.
It's past performance matrix and about training,
even about the jockey we were not knowing.
Lucky day was it, for the horse chosen by us
We returned happy, added few dollar to vault
poem by S.D. Tiwari
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Youre Just A No Account
S. cahn / s. chaplin
Youre just a no account
You never will amount to nothin at all
When there is work to do and someone yells for you
You dont hear them call
The good lord set aside his sundays
For folks to rest
More that one days rest is wrong
You start restin sunday and rest so hard
Youre tired the whole week long
Youre just a no account
You never will amount to nothin at all
I just cant figure how each time you milk the cow
The tit gets so small
We got machines to do your work for you
But you wont press the button on the wall
Youre just a no account
You never will amount to nothin at all
Youre just a no account
You never will amount to nothinal all
I just cant figure how each time you milk the cow
The tit gets so small
We got machines to do your work for you
But you wont press the button on the wall
Youre just a no account
You never will amount to nothin at all
song performed by by Billie Holiday
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Zenyatta
Zenyatta...
Your stamina has got a lot of moxie,
To be believed.
And upon your retirement,
I express this sentiment...
Did you choose to lose your last race,
To let the guys realize,
In your own eyes...
You will never be replaced.
With a decision NOT to win,
Left for those of us wondering...
As we rub our chins.
Realizing with acknowledgement...
Zenyatta IS a winner.
And you, Zenyatta...
Did not have to prove THAT again!
Dedicated:
To the brilliance of Zenyatta,
A female race horse.
Who ran and won every race she entered.
EXCEPT her last.
Ran November 6th 2010.
And 'this' she might have chosen to do!
Knowing all who witnessed it,
Were expecting her to!
Coming from the very last...
To end in second place.
Even 'that' is sheer championship,
No champion winning a previous nineteen undefeated...
Can fake.
'We love you, Ms Zenyatta...
Queen of the race track.'
~lsp~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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The race and the entrants
Running the RaceRunning the race, the entrant is thinking,
How shall I go, shall I be fast tracking;
The man calls their names and they each get down,
But someone starts off early, oh what a frown.
They all get ready, and the man says ready, set go,
Off they all start, around the track they all know,
The runner he thinks, as he races along there,
Have I done enough practice, as the crowd do stare.
But; soon he starts to put speed in each step,
And races ahead, The pace has some depth;
As they come up fast to the first time round,
One of the runners knocks another to the ground.
The runner is now fifteen feet ahead of the rest,
He wants to win the race, another medal in his nest;
As the race comes soon to the end for each one,
That entrant remembered the race of life soon to come.
As Paul had spoken of the race we all run,
In life it's not how much we have, but what we've done;
We run the race of life, seeking to live right,
Serving God our Father, walking in the light.
As we get to the end of the race we run,
When we finish our race well hear hopefully well done;
We can't go wrong when we do right and serve the Lord,
Pray, show kindness and care, and study His Word.
poem by Margaret Haig
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Fighting For Night
Sitting and watching the sun rise
knowing time is near
time to laugh
time to smile
time to cheer
Sitting and watching the sun rise
Lyeing and watching the sun sway
over the puffy white clouds
over the bright blue sky
over a home town
Lyeing watching the sun sway
Standing and watching the sun fall
down to the ground
down to the greenest of grass
down to meet your tears
Standing and watching the sun fall
Leaning and watching the moon climb
up past the stars
up past the sun's lost glem
up to where it shins too full
Leaning and watching the moon climb
Swaying
not watching
not breathing
not hearing
not frowning
Swaying
Laughing from below
watching your body away
watching the rope in the moon light
watching gathering people
watching them cut you down
Laughing from below
Sitting and watching the sun rise
Lyeing and watching the sun sway
Standing and watching the sun fall
Leaning and watching the moon climb
Swaying
Laughing from below
Laughing
from
below
poem by Kathlyn Grace
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Racing
every day of my life I feel like Im in a race
with a mini and I’m the yearling
who keeps tripping, falling, or stumbling over life
but never giving up
for I shall win the race
I win when the mini gives up
but I keep on running and running
away away from something
that’s not there
but I keep running from life
life it’s self is what’s scaring me
for life it’s self is what we all should be scared of
cause life it’s self can and will
kill you
it’s the most dangerous obstacle you’ll ever face
cause winning the race is not what counts
what counts is living throw life
that is the real challenge
and
the real race you should be winning
poem by Mrs. Cynosure
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Magic & Loss - The Summation
When you pass through the fire, you pass through humble
You pass through a maze of self doubt
When you pass through humble, the lights can blind you
Some people never figure that out
You pass through arrogance, you pass through hurt
You pass through an ever present past
And its best not to wait for luck to save you
Pass through the fire to the light
Pass through the fire to the light
Pass through the fire to the light
Its best not to wait for luck to save you
Pass through the fire to the light
As you pass through the fire, your right hand waving
There are things you have to throw out
That caustic dread inside your head
Will never help you out
You have to be very strong, cause youll start from zero
Over and over again
And as the smoke clears theres an all consuming fire
Lying straight ahead
Lying straight ahead
Lying straight ahead
As the smoke clears theres an all consuming fire
Lying straight ahead
They say no one person can do it all
But you want to in your head
But you cant be shakespeare and you cant be joyce
So what is left instead
Youre stuck with yourself and a rage that can hurt you
You have to start at the beginning again
And just this moment this wonderful fire
Started up again
When you pass through humble, when you pass through sickly
When you pass through Im better than you all
When you pass through anger and self deprecation
And have the strength to acknowledge it all
When the past makes you laugh and you can savor the magic
That let you survive your own war
You find that that fire is passion
And theres a door up ahead not a wall
As you pass through fire as you pass through fire
Trying to remember its name
When you pass through fire licking at your lips
You cannot remain the same
And if the buildings burning move towards that door
But dont put the flames out
Theres a bit of magic in everything
And then some loss to even things out
Some loss to even things out
Some loss to even things out
Theres a bit of magic in everything
And then some loss to even things out
song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Stay In School
Stay in school, don't be a fool
A dropout gets left out
A dropout gets pushed out
Show me your name, what does it mean
Show me your ring, you're in the scene
Without an education there is no beginning
With education you are winning
Stay in school, student maintain your cool
It's so hard to get a job now days
Without education just be on your way
Show me your car, what does it prove?
Show me youe diploma, you're in the groove
You don't have to be smart to finish school
But you are a square if you are not there
Dropout, you can start back
Students that are in school
You are on the right track
You can stand around the corner
Watching the school bus go by
You know deep down inside you want to cry
It is good to stop drinking
It is good to stop smoking
When you are thinking about stopping your education
My friend you better start thinking
poem by Leon Thomas Lee
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Human Race (feat. Vern Gosdin)
we've flown to the moon but have we missed the boat along the way?
we reached for the stars but are we that far removed from the cave?
we've got radios and codaphones, computers
we found satellites in space
now everybody's talking
so tell me why we can't communicate
are we losing the human race?
do we ever really learn from our mistakes?
who's ahead, who's behind?
will there be a finish line?
are we losing the human race?
nations are starving while we pay our farmers not to grow their grain
fossil fuel is going up in smoke and coming down in acid rain
the more that we progress it seems
the farther we keep slipping down that drain
its a no-win situation
so tell me why we have to play the game
are we losing the human race?
do we ever really learn from our mistakes?
who's ahead, who's behind?
will there be a finish line?
are we losing the human race?
who's ahead, who's behind?
will there be a finish line?
are we losing the human race?
song performed by by Randy Travis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sunshine vs. Darkness
The sunshine keeps the darkness away. The darkness takes over but soon the sunshine takes over again when its raining sunshine still comes through. We always want sunshine to light our way. But others want the darkness to stay around. When darkness falls many people come alive, others sleep and wait for the sunshine to come again. We all want different things for sunshine or for darkness. Some love the sunshine others love darkness. I see all the saddness when its sunshine. But yet the darkness I see all happiness. Sunshine brings saddness and the darkness brings happiness and excitement!
poem by Nicole Donoghue
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Every Little Counts
Every second counts
When I am with you
I think you are a pig
You should be in a zoo
I guess I shouldve known
Id end up on my own
Every second counts when I am with you
Every second counts
Every little counts
When I am with you
You make me feel so good
I never felt so new
I saw you long ago
Though you never let it show
Every little counts when I am with you
Every little counts when I am with you
Every second counts
When I am with you
Even though youre stupid
I still follow you
The smile upon your face,
It always stays in place
Every second counts when I am with you
Every second counts when I am with you
Every second...
song performed by by New Order
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Yes to to
Yesterday, today and tomorrow,
Is full cycle but you have to know,
Watch it closely and make realize,
Tomorrow to bank up on and capitalize,
Gone were the dark and painful days,
Struggled hard to find honourable way,
Swayed over all and had final say,
Now buried the past and more attention pay,
What ever may be your glorious past?
Today it should never shadow or cast,
Horizon and area is so vast,
Correct the path and move so fast,
Struggle for tomorrow as future lay bright,
Make inroad and always tough fight,
Will have to put in more to see light,
No deviation but to choose path right,
WE may err but never look back,
Path may be difficult and develop crack,
Only one air to surge ahead,
Eyes straight with mind read,
May have some set back and retreat,
Fall and gain always on equal treat,
Move with the people with eyes meet,
Love and affection surely to greet.
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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River So Wide
If we can cross at the place that divides us.
Cross the river, the river so wide,
If we can smother the pain thats inside us,
Deny the demons that wait bu our side,
We can find, find the light
Our nights are filled with the light of the same moon,
We share the comfort of the same stars.
Our days are bright with the light of the same sun,
That dont matter, cant you see what we are,
What we are, what we become?
Keep our sights on the way ahead,
Dont look back, it wont help us now.
The storm we left so far behind
Seems a dark memory that starts to fade,
But till we see the light we will not be safe.
We all sink or swin in the same ocean,
Break our skin and we will bleed
Our minutes pass with the same motion,
We face the same danger, we share the same needs,
Were all the same, you and me.
Keep our sights on the way ahead,
Dont look back, that wont help us now.
Upstream, the river gets too wide
So we must build that bridge right here,
cos if we wait we will not reach the other side.
See under that clear blue sky
The winds of change are blowing hard and long,
And theyll not stop to rest cos the change is gonna come
Our nights are filled with the light of the same moon,
We share the comfort of the same stars.
Our days are bright with the light of the same sun,
That dont matter, cant you see what we are,
What we are, what we become?
Keep our sights on the way ahead,
Dont look back, it wont help us now.
cos upstream the river gets too wide
And if we dont build that bridge right here, right now,
You know well never ever reach the other side.
song performed by by Phil Collins
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Of War And It's Bloodshed
Of war and it's bloodshed far too much we know
Let's hear it for peace and for all a fair go
Nationalism, Religion, Patriotism and Culture only seem to divide
And war leaders declare we have God on our side.
For centuries of war wisdom we do not show
The war supposed to end all wars ended decades ago
Yet at the war memorial the last post is still played
And for the returned war heroes there is one more parade.
War only cause heartbreak the facts never lie
And every day in war zones more people do die
And even every war winner in human lives pay the cost
And victory cannot taste sweet with so many lives lost.
This latest so called war on terror based only on fear
So many evil people from the propagandists we hear
But it takes two to fight and two wrongs never make a right
And the egotistical war men one can say not that bright.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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