Golden Dream

Back Home Up Next

It was a quiet and somewhat sultry day,

They moved as a team that was plain,

For Joanne rode Goldie, her very special friend,

Along the narrow countryside lane. 

   

As a horse he was at the very top of the tree,

And at the top of the milk he was the cream!

With such a wonderfully sounding name,

The irrepressible 'Golden Dream'.

 

They were thinking, as they rode, of their former days,

When they had won just everything in sight,

Because, in any riding competition,

This pair put up a very good fight.

 

They loved it best when they galloped at speed.

As a partnership they were very well ‘gelled’,

Leaving the others so far behind,

Because Goldie ran, as if jet propelled.

 

Team chase had to be their favourite sport.

And Goldie would go off like a shot.

Up hill, down dale, didn’t make any odds,

For Goldie was certainly red hot.

 

It wasn’t only on straight courses, you know.

For he could always take a very good bend.

They loved each other so very much,

And couldn’t see a time when it would end.

 

But it was on this day that our Joanne,

Had something very special to say,

So she bent from the saddle, whispering into Goldie’s ear,

"Dear Goldie, I’ve got to go away."

 

"The time has come to extend my career,

And so in the City of London I must stay.

My sister Emma will look after you,

And I’ll think of you every day."

 

"Don’t think that you’re forgotten, dear Goldie,

You’ll still be so very close to my heart,

And I’ll come home as often as I can.

It’ll be as if we were never apart!"

 

Goldie took it so well for he understood,

He really appreciated the score.

It wasn’t as if Jo had sold him on,

And didn’t want to ride him anymore.

 

But then came the news that was so hard to take.

The farm owners had caused quite a fuss.

"Your Goldie’s beginning to look very gaunt,

And he’s not a good advert for us!"

 

"You’ll have to move him to another farm.

Alternatively you could put him down.

When our prospective customers look at him,

They hurry on back to the town."

 

This was a severe blow to the family,

To Jo and Goldie, already apart.

It really is  my supposition

That this rejection tore Goldie apart.

 

From that moment on Goldie went into decline,

And he wore a weary perpetual frown,

Until Jo was finally given the news,

That her Goldie would have to be put down.

 

So Goldie spent his very last moments with Jo,

Before he went on his heavenly way.

Jo told Goldie just how much she loved him,

And that she would see him again one day.

 

She held his head so close in her arms,

And gently stroked each of his ears,

As she whispered sweet nothings to Goldie,

Whilst her face was coursed with tears.

 

Goldie sighed and turned his tired face,

Towards Jo, as if to say,

"I understand what you’re saying, Jo,

And I’ll never be far away."

 

"Just pretend when you go back to London,

That I’m gambolling here, in the fields of Devon,

After all, if we’ve got to be apart.

Does it matter if I’m happy in heaven?"

 

"Up there it won't be pitilessly commercial,

The farm owners had no style and less grace

And those who condemned and rejected me,

Will probably end up in an alternative place!"

 

And  now Goldie is running at his usual speed,

Far far away and really up high.

If you look up long and hard enough,

You'll see him streaking across the sky.

 

So Jo, you'll not worry when your time comes.

Although leaving loved ones will be sad,

Because you’ll see Question Mark and Goldie again,

And, alongside them, your mum and dad.

 

And all your friends from long ago,

And all your family too,

Some of whom you’ll hardly know,

Who’ll be introduced to you.

 

But Goldie this poem is written for you,

A final and a very fitting farewell,

Although no longer in your earthly form,

In our hearts and minds, you still surely dwell.

 

By Tu Gether.

 jo.jpg (12618 bytes)

Dedicated to Goldie and my daughter, Joanne.

Author: Trevor Durbidge  Copyright © 2001 [TJD].   All rights reserved.    Revised: October 30, 2007 . 

Top of the page