November Poem-A-Day 4

Score Sheet: The Melbourne Cup, 5 Nov 13

There’ll be the number who attended

and how many of them wore fascinators,

who won the parade of women in shining

coats of paint, their heels clopping as they

trotted in front of the crowd, heads at best

angles. But you eschewed all that. No hat!

The jockey having regained the trust

of those who allow performance, ban it,

put on a brilliant show and it was the two

of you raising fists in victory: your first,

his third, the horse backed in to favourite

but still – who expects to win? No-one.

The horse imported, the team Australian.

A winning combination.