I like the vilanelle structure and the line “candescent jockey. Psychopomp by name.” I don’t fully understand the meaning of the poem but I do like the reference to the painting. I like the subtlety of using counter clockwise rider since he is dead and going the opposite direction. The words laissez-faire, smart money makes me think this is a political critique of sort? The odds are in your favor - maybe the upper class since this is horse racing and the upper class are the ones that can afford to gamble on horse racing. “Of course the serpent startles at the game.” this makes me think of biblical sin imagery especially since the painting is referencing death, but who does the serpent represent? Maybe I’m overthinking this and this is just putting the imagery of the painting into words.
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