H----It was Ol' Henry's last ride...

It was Ol' Henry's last ride.....

The mornin' came with lots of sun,
the trail would be dusty it seemed.
Henry swigged the last of his cup,
strong, hot black coffee, never creamed...

He dreamed last night in the bunkhouse,
layin' on his rickety bed,
'bout a valley, black soil a'plenty.
a green paradise of a spread....

There was old oak trees standin' tall,
a creek runnin' clear and so cool....
Lots of vittles for the livestock,
Twas' even a sturdy old mule.....

The grove of trees held a cabin..
The winda's had curtains of lace.
He felt down in his heart of hearts,
that he had to find this sweet place....

He grabbed him up some beef jerky
and that last wide slice of wheat bread...
Just a little somethin' to chew on,
Rough trail that was layin' ahead....

Cletus hollered, 'git a move on'
'we're burnin' daylight' , 'gotta go'....
Movin' slow this mornin', hurtin',
but he tried not lettin' it show.....

Rise after rise, they trudged along,
millin' cattle snortin' n' bawlin'....
Midday was intense with raw heat,
slowed livestock down to a crawlin'....

Cookie yelled as they broke for grub,
'Beans comin' up on yer all's plates'....
Everbody groaned and some cussed,
seemed twas' all that Cookie creates....

Full bellies flopped upon bedrolls....
On the prairie sod and sharp stones.
Henry winced as he laid on down,
Shootin' pain thru his old hipbones...

Dreamin' about that land again,
he saw a small grey-haired lady...
Widow she was, readin' love pomes
on the porch where it was shady.....

Dawn broke with buckets of cold rain,
hailstones whappin' after a while....
Henry holdin' tight to the reins,
Complainin' was just not his style...

The boys rode thru miles of grey mud,
keepin' that hoofin' beef in line....
He felt weaker, grew mighty pale,
Heart was achin',...not a good sign....

Topplin' off his swaggerin' paint,
Henry fell dead upon the ground....
Just then, torrential rain let up,
Haltin' the drive, hands gathered 'round....

Jake wrapped him in his wool blanket,
Roy quietly went for the spade....
They went to bury Ol' Henry
A few words, then o'er him they prayed.....

Mornin' shone on the lonely grave,
dressed in a wooden, whittled cross....
A lonesome man , a lonesome mound
where a few wildflowers were tossed...

On a ways' over that sloped hill...
sat the valley Henry had dreamed....
The widow on the shady porch....
An oak grove, and fishin' stream....

Curlin' smoke rose from the wood stove,
The widow was snappin' new peas...
The mule was sleepin', standin' up,
Lace curtains, floppin' in the breeze

Seems Ol' Henry almost made it,
just a short gallop, 'for he died
A place that was waitin' for him,
Twas' the end of Ol' Henry's ride...

Copyright-8-7-2003-
Margaret LaVonne Hall
All rights reserved....