Alan Marshall

for the first time, I felt my difference

That I should suddenly feel this way astonished me. I hesitated, momentarily confused

Then anger stirred in me and I swung towards them with quick, determined thrusts

He had lifted me to the level of these men, but more than that, he had ensured

You gotta neck and shoulders on you like a working bullock. I’ve never seen a kid walk better

There’s often things a bloke wants to do but can’

how happy he would be when, one day, I galloped past our house on some arched-necked horse reefing at the bit as it fought my hold on the reins

became impatient to improve. Surely what they could do, I could do

was touched by the plight of the little girl and kept wishing I were there to play with her

was astonished at his outburst. I had not connected the song with myself. I was