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Rudyard Kipling's Verse

Definitive Edition

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The Broken-Link Handicap.

While the snaffle holds or the long-neck stings,
While the big beam tilts or the last bell rings,
While horses are horses to train and to race,
Then women and wine take a second place
For me—for me—
While a short ‘ten-three’
Has a field to squander or fence to face.