emerges from the barn’s cool shadow,
clops placidly down the path beside her groom, 

appears unassuming except for the spark of white
on her face, the unusual upside-down exclamation

point that serves as her trademark. She regards 
the assembled throng of fans, her quiet eyes 

belying greatness, how she once slaughtered
a slew of speedy fillies in the Kentucky Oaks

by over twenty blazing lengths, then bounced 
back in just over two weeks’ time to whip 

the best of the boys in the Preakness Stakes. 
Now she rests on well-earned laurels, 

meandering pastures pristine and green, 
her only obligation in this luxe horse heaven to pose 

occasionally for photos and snuffle 
peppermints from the palms of children’s hands.