GENTLE JOE
| In a little country village There's a story that they tell It's a story of a horse with heart The locals know it well When the townsfolk tell the story They brim with pride as they relate The courage of a little girl And her heroic, powerful mate Gentle Joe had been a race horse He possessed such blistering pace He had fifteen starts for fifteen wins He never lost a race 'Gentle Joe' was not his 'racing' name As all the locals know But due to his sweet nature He was known as 'Gentle Joe' He'd won the hearts of everyone He'd won the champion's crown Then that fateful day in '52 Gentle Joe came crashing down The gasp of pity from the crowd Gentle Joe was in such pain His left knee badly damaged He would never race again The racecourse Vet was on the scene And with a worried frown He told the owner of the horse "We'll have to put him down." But his owner was soft hearted And with a tearful glance He mumbled in a broken voice "Gentle Joe deserves a chance." "I know he'll never race again But perhaps his knee will mend I will not allow his killing I call this horse my friend." "His life will not end on this racecourse." Bill Marr softly said "He will not die here with strangers I'll take him to my farm instead." He was stabled on his owner's farm Supported by a sling And though many Vets examined him They couldn't do a thing But Gentle Joe had spirit He would not admit defeat And then one Autumn morning Joe stood on all four feet For a time he walked so slowly Then, as the months rolled past With courage and forbearance He could trot again at last And then they saw him canter His spirit wouldn't yield And his owner cheered so proudly That day he galloped in the field Bill Marr loved this horse so dearly He knew how hard 'Old Joe' had tried He was filled with such emotion That unashamedly he cried Young Jenny Marr befriended Joe It was a friendship that would last She rode him every morning But they never travelled fast Jenny Marr was only nine years old She would wince each time she'd see That ugly scar so obvious Where Joe had smashed his knee After school each evening Joe waited at his paddock gate Jenny talked to him and stroked him She'd spend hours with her best mate Then those two months of '58 When the rains came flooding down Brother Terry needed insulin But they couldn't get to town The only bridge across the river Crumbled 'neath the torrent's might And the turbid, angry current Was such a fearful sight Terry Marr was diabetic He had only just turned five He regularly needed insulin To ensure he could survive Due to the flooded river He had exhausted all his stock He needed insulin this very day Or he could go into shock Bill Marr called his farmhands to him And told them of his strife "We need a fresh supply of insulin To save young Terry's life." "We have to reach his doctor To get a fresh supply We have to cross that river Or young Terry's going to die." "So saddle up the horses We can't let Terry down We can't let the river stop us We have to make it into town." "I'm going with you" Jenny cried "I'm riding Gentle Joe." "Well, ride him at the rear" Bill said "And take him very slow." "But when we reach the river That's as far as you can ride The river is too dangerous You must stay safely on this side." They started at a gallop Jenny had Joe lagging back But Joe felt deep resentment As he trailed the leading pack Gentle Joe had been a champion He possessed a champion's pride He felt the thrill of competition As he settled into stride He had defeated top class thoroughbreds On all the city courses His pride would not permit him To trail behind these country horses Jenny struggled vainly To hold the big horse at the rear But Joe gathered in the leaders And soon raced six lengths clear Animals feel our emotions They can sense our joy or woe And in moments of great trauma Somehow they seem to know Right down through the ages When a human suffered strife There are countless bush-lore legends Of how these creatures saved a life Gentle Joe sensed the importance This was a race he had to win He didn't falter at the river Instead, he plunged straight in The other riders halted They held fear they couldn't mask To cross that raging river Would be a hopeless task With heavy hearts despairing And tears they couldn't hide They searched that raging torrent Knowing horse and girl had died Bill Marr waved his riders back He felt his loss so strong To risk more life to that river Would be so very wrong Then across that angry river Came the sound of pounding feet And tear filled eyes were thrilling To a vision, oh so sweet Through mud and slush and undergrowth And picking his own track A big black horse was flying With a young girl on his back The riders watched with pure amazement And Bill Marr filled with pride That young girl was his daughter It was grand to see her ride And as the riders watched them They gave cheers without restrain As Gentle Joe and Jenny Sped through the driving rain Through twisted scrub and Wattles Past Gums and Mountain ash A young girl and a big brave horse Were on a mercy dash They didn't seem to notice All the obstacles they passed Then they broke through to the clearing And were on the road at last Gentle Joe refused to slow his pace He ignored his rasping breath This race could only have one winner And their competitor was death The dirt roads looked like rivers Where for weeks the skies had rained But at last they reached the township And the insulin was gained Jenny thanked the doctor Then climbed upon Joe's back And without a wasted moment They were on the homeward track When again they reached the river It would chill the bravest blood The river roared its anger This was the river's wildest flood Uprooted trees and debris Rode upon the river's flow It held the fearful force of horror Only nature can bestow Bill Marr and his riders Screamed out a warning cry To cross that river was too dangerous They prayed the young girl wouldn't try Jenny felt more fear and panic The closer they got to it But still she murmured bravely "Come on big boy, we can do it." Without the slightest hesitation Joe plunged into the water The riders uttered muffled prayers For Joe and Bill Marr's daughter With a mournful cry of anguish Bill watched his daughter and his friend Trapped by the raging current Swept around the river's bend And on the opposing bank The riders followed fast They saw that Joe was floundering They knew he couldn't last But Joe had the heart and spirit That never will say die And while ever he drew breath They knew that big, brave horse would try The riders were uncertain If horse or God to thank But they cheered with such elation As Joe struggled up the bank Joe stood still for just a moment As if to ease his pain Then without a word from Jenny He started off again The other riders followed They watched Joe's blistering pace unwind And though they knew he felt exhaustion He quickly left them far behind Jenny feared that time would beat them As the minutes slipped away She took a daring short-cut That filled the others with dismay Over fallen limbs and strips of bark Past stumps that leaned askew They were on a mercy errand And they meant to see it through Wattles and sharp brambles flailed their bodies and their face But this young girl and her big black horse refused to slacken pace Joe's gait revealed to Jenny That his knee was getting sore But this horse was such a champion He'd make it last a few miles more At they reached the homestead Jenny felt such joy she cried She saw her mother smiling warmly With young Terry at her side Jenny hugged Joe with affection For the wondrous job he'd done Due to the courage of a horse and girl The race with death was won That happened many years ago Now, high above the river's bend A lady sits in silence At the grave of her best friend Jenny looks down at the river Its waters now run smooth and mild But her thoughts are of another day When the river's flow was wild Gentle Joe had lived a long life And his memory wont depart His grave overlooks the river That he conquered with his heart He had won so many races But his greatest win by far was the race he won to save the life Of little Terry Marr The years have passed so swiftly Jenny's hair has now turned grey But her eyes shine with the memory Of that far off yesterday She gently strokes the plaque Placed there by her dad and mother In memory of the gallant horse That saved her little brother The inscription on the plaque states: "Here rests our dearest friend A horse who never knew defeat A champion to the end." K.D. Abbott © 2010 |
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