Post by wildfire on Mar 4, 2005 11:33:00 GMT -5
A cold and blust'ry, bitter night
The boy was nearly froze
His hands were numb upon the reins
No feelin' in his toes
He struggled just to stay aboard
His stumblin', jaded horse
As they plowed through wind-blown, driftin' snow
But somehow kept their course.
They headed toward a beacon
Flickerin' faintly in the night
Through the howlin', swirlin', icy hell
They traveled toward the light
And the welcome, sheltered safety
Of a barn and cabin warm
Where the horse and half-froze boy could start
To thaw out from the storm.
His pa was watchin' for 'em
And he met 'em at the gate
"Your ma was gettin' worried, son;
It's gettin' kinda late.
Got some beef stew simmerin' on the stove,
Fresh coffee in the pot
'Pears to me that you could prob'ly use
Some vittles nice an' hot.
"Let me help you strip that saddle off
And dry 'im off a mite
Then we'll brush 'im down a little
Man! That blizzard is a sight!
An extra scoop of grain might help;
He'll like this fresh, clean hay
A good long rest and he'll be fit
To work another day.
"And, son, you might be thinkin' now,
Myself, I'm kinda tired.
My hands near froze, my feet like ice
Is all this work required?
But son, you know the custom here
Though we say it kinda coarse- - - - -
'Fore you back your butt up to the fire,
First you take care of your horse.
"Ya see, he's why you're standin' here
'Steada out there in the snow
He brought you home safe through the storm;
It weren't no easy go.
Ev'ry step he took was forward,
No balkin', no complaint.
A man can claim to be well-mounted
When he's ridin' this old paint."
A lesson learned when just a youth
Still shapes his code today.
A grown man now, his word's his bond;
Each day he earns his pay.
And no matter what the weather,
Or if the hour 's late
He takes care of his horse before
He goes to fill his plate.
I wonder if this world might be
A kinder, gentler place
If more of us embraced that code
'Steada tryin' to erase
The truths and values of our youth
And followed straight the course;
Think we'd 'preciate life more today
If first we'd feed our horse.
