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Today the Derby Comes to Town |
today the derby comes to town
all that means hangs in the air
the sky is welcoming
the street is clean
the breakfast table quiet
but there's a silent rumbling
the children feel something and their feet start drumming
the fathers can't focus on their morning newspapers
the mothers know the day will soon be theirs
but the night will be given back over to the men
either in celebration or consolation
for how fast those beasts of beauty move
carrying on their backs men's pay checks and dreams
will prove something
will be vindication from the boss or the laws or the loss
will be proof of what the world has forgotten about them
that they know things feel things
are tuned in still have it
that the gods are smiling
life has meaning and they are king
or this day will just be another nail in the coffin they're already living in
proof they can't get out from the thumb they've been under
reason for the drink the stubble and the stumble
and in the quiet of the night the wives will carry the load
the kids feel this
see this possibility hanging over their breakfast unsettling
but they don't know what it is
they look towards their mother questioning
who swing down whispering as to not disturb the father quite struggle to read
and say
today's the derby honey today's the derby
but the children don't know this has to do with horses
they think from what they see this must be a jail that comes to town once a year
in which all men must go
with the weight we put on it as adults they are right
we just call it sport
copyright 2008
Benjamin
Crowley |
