Birth of a Horse Child
The basest horn of his hoof Is more musical than the pipe of Hermes Thus said Shakespeare in Henry V I wept when my horse Peachy didn ’ t thrive .
Tonicity was born and became an orphan soon after birth
He was treated with love and affection and some offered mirth
He was not going to be ridden by Petruchio after all But by the best jockeys in future during the spring and fall .
by TIMIR BANERJEE , MD
He passed all the others on a hard dirt track that he paid heed Finished the race as the first seed with thundering speed It is the child ’ s success
That brings mothers ’ joy and jubilation that some quietly confess .
The mother had blessed the child with her last breath
She had fallen forming a red wreath of glory by the contents of the artery of the broad ligament
Her eyes had stared but there were no tears but only joy of contentment .
The powerful sinews of the horse contracted and sweat poured out as he raced down the track
His breath filled of foam effervesced as he reached the finish line His inner sail constantly tacked The jockey gave him slack He understood and took off Handily , at full speed accepting some scoff . But much like Pegasus that had risen from the blood of Medusa .
A victorious smile and fierce determination even at death A foal was born ! To win a race or to save a kingdom That even King Richard could ride And never be distressed or forlorn ! That was the secret promise he had carried in his head
Knowing that he was born on the golden jubilee of the birth of Secretariat
He had a big shoe to fill and a responsibility that he had to carry out !
Dr . Banerjee is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Louisville .
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