The Ride

The story starts at least in parts

On a hot Fourth of July

It was rodeo time, when beer was prime

And peanuts cost a dime

A strawberry roan had set the tone

For the buckingest bronc in line

Lonesome Ed and his brother Fred

Had entered for the longest ride

The strawberry horse had set the course

And threw Ed before he tried

The cowboy next was also vexed

And fell ass over the horse’s behind

Two more got kicked through the door

And swore they’d tan his hide

But now it was Fred came out of the shed

And climbed on the roan this time

He set his spurs deep in the fur

Of the side-winding fish-belly horse

The roan took the first dare

And with four feet in the air

Twisted full circle and landed in dirt

Fred grabbed his hat gave the horse a pat

And spurred him deep to the muscle core

The horse was now sore and headed for the door

Of the arena on the rodeo grounds

The ride was done and Fred had won

But now he couldn’t dismount

They went through the door

Fred’s head on the floor and his feet high in the air

The roan didn’t even stop for a mare

They headed across the prairie at a slow canter and lope

Fred learned to ride from the belly side

And became the brunt of rodeo jokes

The horse was sold for a pot of gold

As rodeo stock he fit the mold

Ed left the game, someone else could tame

The sun fishing, white-bellied roan

Fred tried again weeks later it’s said

But his ride was so slow he was dead

Ed and Fred it’s said left the circuit and wed

Twin strawberry blonds instead

©6/2/07Terry Sutherland

Sans Peur

Terry