On Speed

by Venetia Bradfield

I am, I was, a thoroughbred
muscles lithe and flowing.
“She’s like the wind,“ is what they said,
”Just look how fast she’s going!”

I loved to run, it was inbred
I won each race I entered
and then one day I lost instead.
How will I get re-centered?

It happened once, it happened twice
until I lost them all
my racing legs were put on ice
as I began to fall.

I am, I was, a thoroughbred
muscles barely showing.
I totter, fall, and miss a tread
It may be true: I’m slowing.