
Late season in a racing town 
packed lunchtime bar –
familiarity enough
excess of bonhomie.
The slight framed, bow-legged
faces like wizened apples.
standing out among the jostle 
of shaved heads, broken noses
women who know 
how to make themselves heard.
You’re either family 
or just another punter.
Given the talk of bobs and bills,
the bucks who wash through here
monkeys and ponies, it would be
easy to assume an arcane knowledge 
supposing these alone are party
to whatever certainties come round.
.
Tony Lucas
.
