<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Off to a Flying Start &#187; Rachel Alexandra</title>
	<atom:link href="http://offtoaflyingstartpress.com/tag/rachel-alexandra/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://offtoaflyingstartpress.com</link>
	<description>Horsing Around the Language -- The Book, the blog, and more.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:17:23 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2</generator>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
			<item>
		<title>&#8220;The Natural and the Theatrical&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://offtoaflyingstartpress.com/2010/01/20/the-natural-and-the-theatrical/</link>
		<comments>http://offtoaflyingstartpress.com/2010/01/20/the-natural-and-the-theatrical/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:15:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bill</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog Posts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Horse racing poetry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rachel Alexandra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[zenyatta]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://offtoaflyingstartpress.com/?p=460</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A poem for horse racing about a race between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The Natural and the Theatrical</strong></p>
<p>On this day of winter’s horse racing retreat<br />
brings me to dreams of our two great fillies in a matched heat.<br />
You punters and horse lovers and backers alike<br />
help me to conjure a bit of excitement in this grey light</p>
<p>There she is – The Natural – undefeated in every trip to the gate<br />
The lady Zenyatta takes it slow off the pace<br />
but she knows where the wire spreads out overhead<br />
And when it is late she is passing the also-rans without breaking a sweat</p>
<p>Look at the size of her with hair and ears a flapping<br />
At least 16 hands and everyone of those, and ours, are clapping<br />
The way she runs, she is a hero from Hollywood, but this no film<br />
Her desire to win burns so hot, you’d think she was foaled in a kiln</p>
<p>There dear friends is Rachel Alexandra – the Theatrical beaut.<br />
She makes a race so dramatic, so alluring, right out of the chute.<br />
Like in a dark theatre where she is the only player on the stage<br />
We cannot look away from her as she runs in a rage</p>
<p>She is a star, and like a heavenly body, has the power of attraction<br />
A force of gravity that has yet to reach maturation.<br />
One who has taken on all comers no matter how well–meant<br />
Her true character shines; to the wire first, how wonderfully hell-bent</p>
<p>For these two horses are unmatched on any track<br />
Worthy of a tale of yore and a fabled race so sublime<br />
like a watched clock that has yet to chime<br />
What a bold pair these two would make – The Natural and the Theatrical</p>
<p>Oh the palms do sweat and the hands do quake<br />
Seeing will be believing when they are off  in this great stake<br />
And nary a number will I be punting<br />
Just holding my head on high to see them so stunning</p>
<p>But, oh for the chance to see them fly by!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://offtoaflyingstartpress.com/2010/01/20/the-natural-and-the-theatrical/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

