Secretariat's Heart

by Franco Bertucci

The heart of Secretariat
was two and a half times the size
of a normal horse's heart,
and he ran the fastest.

And I run.

Thirty lengths in front
of the second fastest horse he flew,
and the second fastest broke himself
in striving.

The mighty horse had a woman waiting for him.
And I have you.

I don't know the size of my heart
but the night I entered the race
you saw it beating through my shirt.

Awkward Guy

Poems and other embarassing things. 2011 Franco Bertucci