John Smith’s Grand National, April 9, 2011
I challenged my good friend Arletta Dawdy to take the names of the horses entered in John Smith’s Grand National Steeplechase Blog and put them in a poem. First she laid horses names out like a play’s billing, then she composed the poem.
Characters:
Quolibet
The Tother One
Ornais (FR orner-to decorate, adorn)
Our Monty
Pomme Tiepy
Hello Bud
Grand Slam Hero
Ballyfitz
Big Fella Thanks
Royal Rosa
Le Beau Bai (Fr. Good bay horse)
Merigo
Places:
The Midnight Club
Dooney’s Gate
Arbor Supreme
Backstage
Ballabriggs
Skippers Brigg
Putney Bridge
Actions: Other:
Don’t Push It Niche Market
Can’t Buy Time Oscar Time
Becauseicouldntsee Bluesea Cracker
Roll Along Silver By Nature
Comply or Die Golden Kite
State of Play What a Friend
Character Building Always Waining
Belon Gale
Askthemaster
John Smith’s Grand National – The Poem:
By Arletta Dawdy © April 8, 2011
‘
“Twas a night like The Tother One,
All dark and drear,
When Pomme Tiepy
At The Midnight Club
Did first appear.
“You Can’t Buy Time,” said Our Monty Backstage,
“The State of Play
Is all the rage.
So, Roll Along now,
Comply or Die.”
Down thru Dooney’s Gate he did go,
In a Belon Gale
To Askthemaster
of Niche Market
For Grand Slam Hero.
“Nay, not here on this Ballabriggs night,
Try Putney Bridge,”
Said Old Ballyfitz.
“Big Fella Thanks,
What a Friend.”
“Hello Bud. Don’t Push It over.
Life’s a Golden Kite,
Yours for the askin’.”
“Get along you,
‘Tis but Silver by Nature.”
“P’raps Becauseicouldntsee ye,”
Pomme Tiepy cried,
And grabbed his coat-tail,
Before he ended
Deep in Skippers Brigg.
And now came Quolibet, Ornais and Royal Rosa,
Riding Le Beau Bai,
To the Arbor Supreme.
“Character Building?”
Asked sly Merigo.
“Nay, nay, “ thus answered Hero.
“Tis near Oscar Time.
We’ll meet at the Gate
With the bells Always Waining
To run a furlong or two for the training.”
Off they hurried, one and all
To Cheltenham’s stalls,
Their colors’ flying
For John Smith’s Grand National
May the winner take all.
Arletta Dawdy © April 8, 2011
Robin of Rockridge's Blog 
THANK YOU, ARLETTA! You met the challenge and did a fantastic job!
Now if only picking the winners were so easy.
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This is terrific! Loved it, Arletta1 What a fun idea, Robin!
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Thanks, Patricia! Didn’t Arletta create a winner’s circle of a poem out of those names?
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Wow! Arletta you wove those in without batting an eye. Great job. Hope you get some recognition, you’ve earned it.
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Thank you, Sharon! We always knew Arletta is talented with the words! She gets the blue ribbon award.
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Thank you, ladies. It was fun to do by percolating the concept for a couple of days, then grouping the names and, finally, having the “story” burst forth. I lost the first line only to recover it in my sleep and got up in the wee hours to email the correct line to Robin! Weee! Congrats, Robin, on so many hits on your site today. Glad if I helped out.
Arletta
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Thanks again, Arletta! You turned out some winning lines to match that challenge!
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Now that was different!
The idea was original and the execution was amazing. What a team!
I’m sure the horsy community will enjoy.
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Thank you, Linda! Didn’t Arletta create a “winning” poem? First across the finish line for her!
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Brilliant. . . to both Robin and Arletta. Robin: for suggesting the idea. And to Arletta for exquisite execution!
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Thank you, Marlene!
It was a fun plan and Arletta really nailed it with that poem.
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Phew! Good going Arlette. That was quite a challenge. Just reading your poem made me feel like I’d raced a furlong or two.
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Thanks, Jeanne! Yes, didn’t Arletta put together quite a winner?
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great challenge, just the beginning I hope
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Thanks, Julie! Hmmm, maybe we will continue those horse poems.
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A fun idea, crafting a horse poem with horse champion names.
What would happen if someone used those same names in a poem about dogs? Could it be done? And not for racing dogs, maybe for sheep herding dogs.
Shush! Did Cookie hear that?
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Thanks for the idea, Dog Leader (Deborah). I don’t think Cookie would mind at all (although we don’t have sheep anymore.) Herding dogs tend to have simple names like Mike, Tip, Blue, and Milly.
Maybe you could turn that into a rescue-dog promotion? Go to the shelter, write down the dogs’ names & turn the names into a poem? Who knows–may promote more adoptions!
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Hey, Robin. Thanks for a first class, fun idea. Shelter dog rhymes?
And I owe you one horse (white pony post). I’m wanting to trade for a “Cookie and sheep herding story,” which I promise to link to a “herding dog” rescue of your choice.
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