Domestique

A couple of years ago I wrote and posted a poem about doping in cycling called Dopers' Lament. More recently I wrote this short poem about the sadness of the young men who died as a result of "doing what had to be done"....


Domestique

Bike passed to mechanic

Showered, massaged, refuelled

Another day done

Another lesson learned

Doing what has to be done

And he dreams of bigger days

Of Pyrenees and Alps

Of his name on the road

Dreams of glory

Of podium girls

And fast cars

And he drifts off

Aching

On a hotel bed

And molten Macadam blood

Seeps through enlarged ventricles

And a young man

Domestique

Sleeps

Forever