The Dying Champion

I once raced, around the grassy tracks
Jumped the hurdles of water, branch and brick
And i was the fastest, the strongest by far

Whipped till i burned
Kicked till i bruised
And i came first
Yet the winner sat on my back.

I ran the track
I jumped the walls
Then I went back to the stable
and the glory was his

I did as trained
I worked through pain
I tried my best
But still, i failed.

So i was left
in this desolate place
Chained to the fence
No shelter, food nor water
No friend.

I lived to race
I raced to live
He needed me, or so i thought
Left starved, alone
beneath the graying sky
I got too old
So I've been left to die.