"Now as I place a wet quarter on her grave"

Exacta

I grew up out at the track with my mother
Checking out the horses and helping her choose
Getting an education like no other
While learning about all the ways you can lose

But I never saw her so happy as when
She hit an exacta and understood then
Why all those people with their broken-down cars
Left broken-down lives back home to reach for stars

Because once in a while the magic would come
And an angel would kiss some broken-down bum
To bless him with martinis and long cigars
Long as the odds which once in a while we beat
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat
We held our tickets until all hope was gone

But I found the fountains in the infield lawn
And filled my pockets with wet quarters for her
From superstitious winners who never were
Finding more money than my mother most days
Finding one of the more dependable ways
To come home a winner those sunny Sundays

I grew up out at the track with my mother
Checking out the horses and helping her choose
Getting an education like no other
While learning about all the ways you can lose

The odds were so long yet at the end she beat
Cold death to snatch life from the jaws of defeat
Now as I place a wet quarter on her grave
I know she won and offer my life to her
I place my bet for another soul to save
For me and for those winners who never were

+Steven Curtis Lance



Copyright MMVII