HEXHAM RACES POEMS INTRODUCTION
The following poems are by Tyneside writer Dr Keith Armstrong. They were first written in the year 2000 for his poetry residency at Hexham Racecourse and an exhibition of the poems with artwork by local artist Kathleen Sisterson was launched at an event at the Racecourse in September of that year, introduced by Hexham based sports writer Harry Pearson, with readings from Keith and folk music from Mike and Peter Tickell and Ray Sloan on Northumbrian Pipes.
Since 2000 Keith has been a regular visitor to Hexham Races and continues to find inspiration for his poetry in every visit.
Other commissioned work by Keith includes ‘Fire & Brimstone’ the story of Tynedale artist John Martin and ‘The Hexham Celebration’, both for the Hexham Abbey Festival.
He also has also compiled and edited a local history book ‘The Town of Old Hexham’ and organised a festival celebrating the life and work of Hexham born poet Wilfrid Gibson.
UNSTABLE GIRLS
I am drawn to them
by the luck of the draw:
unstable girls
who roll me in the hay
and romp
across the bolts of lightning in my head,
their hair flashing
through all my racing
uncertainty.
LAMENT FOR A TIC-TAC MAN
Tick tock
the tic-tac man
once waved
his white gloves
in my dreams,
signalling
the end
of lost ideals.
One of the old gambling school
he was,
his hands
flitting
across the dashing fields.
Riding
thin air
with his monied semaphore,
he guided life,
against the odds,
to a chancer’s death;
a Ladbrokes’ graveyard,
where all the old tic-tac men
lie buried
and uncomputerised.
LIGHT HEAVY
Light
from the steppes and plateaus,
heavy
with the weight of forests,
these proud ancenstral beasts
come galloping
through my dreams.
PRAYER FOR THE UNKNOWN HORSEMAN
Let my breath
catch the sungleam
on an elegant head.
May my heart
soar,
my eyes burn
with the joy
of a hot day.
Horses are harnessed wind;
let me not frighten or harm them.
Show me ways
to understand them.
Let the scent of fresh hay
always be sweet to me.
Let my blood
stampede
with horses.
KEITH ARMSTRONG
RACECARD POEMS
The Federation Brewery Amateur Riders’ Selling Handicap Steeple Chase
THE GREEN FOOL
OLD ALE
GONE AWAY
The Buchanan Ales Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race
ETERNAL CITY
ON YOUR OWN
FASTNLUCE LADY
The Keoghans ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Race
ONE STOP
THE SNOW BURN
SIT BACK
HAPPY BLAKE
FOREVER GREY
The Levy Board Maiden National Flat Race
FOR CAROL
VALLEY OF HOPE
THE OTHER HALF
GLACIAL PRINCESS
LITTLE TWIG
The Federation Brewery Novices’ Steeple Chase
AIDE MEMOIRE
SIX CLERKS
SUPREME SOVIET
PATTER MERCHANT
The Grant Williamson Chartered Accountants ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Race (Div 2)
JUST HUSH
DANTE’S AMOUR
NAUGHTY FEELINGS
FIERY BELLE
The Service Welding Novices’ Hurdle Race
EVENING CHORUS
CLASSIC BLUES
CHOIR BELLE
The Keoghans Novices’ Hurdle Race
DARING NATIVE
CHERRY TART
ANGEL IN DISGUISE
FROSTY LIGHT
GOLDEN MEADOW
The Consett Printing Company Standard Open ‘National Hunt’ Flat Race (Class H)
WILLING
PRIMITIVE COUNTESS
GOLDEN GROOVE
DANCE N’ SKIP
Hexham Courant Novice Handicap Hurdle Race (Class E)
NORTH MOSS
COOL MINER
LOOKING MAGIC
The Carnaud Metal Box Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle Race
BLOOD BROTHER
HAND OF STRAW
INTO THE BLACK
GALE AHEAD
The Pensher Security Doors Selling Hurdle Race
ENERGY MAN
BALCONY BOY
SINGING PROFIT
FLUTTERBY LADY
PETITE BUSH
LA PERDOMA
The Consett Christmas Novices’ Steeple Chase
SLAUGHT SON
UP FOR RANSOM
HALF EACH
The Tote Handicap Steeple Chase
BLAZING DAWN
SUPER SANDY
SINGING SAND
The Founders Ales Novices’ Hurdle Race
SOUTHERN BELLE
BIG TARGET
ONE FOR ALL
IN DEMAND
THRASHING
BORDER FARMER
The Federation Brewery Standard National Hunt Flat Race
YOUNG RAB
SILVER REBEL
SILKEN MEMORIES
MIGHTY FINE
