Racing past tawny grasses

The breath of the enemy
Forming mist on my neck

Snapping ivory jaws at my heels

Breathing, struggling,
Leaping off the ground

Finish just ahead,
Enemy just behind

My adversary, surges
Myself, slacken

Overrun, overtaken, stopped

The enemy finishes on top,
Sinking the claws of defeat
Into my conquered flesh.