Ante Post* for Annabelle

When we first saw you blink

taking in your lot 
not seeing us blink back,

only slightly less amazed, saying;

“yes, we are your lot”

And saying too;

“you drew well, we will keep your bets intact

show you the form and do our best to stack 
the odds, to help you judge the going

and to know in knowing
those rare arts of the thoroughbred,

no fence can fell you”

So when you run or jump

to take the bounds 
of every field we show you

beginning to wonder 

what’s in the next

or that one further yonder

for us, you can only win,

All Out for life now,

our bets are in.  

*betting on an event in the future