Tales Spun (Cowpunchers)

The next morning the blizzard was still blowing down the pike. We fed the horses while the old man rustled
up some grub. We pulled out the checkers and begin to play while the old man spun this tale of cowhands.

I was a cowhand near the Rio Grande,
We ran cattle on the border towns
El Paso-Ciudad-Juarez-Las Cruces
Texas sand & Mexican heat
Cow Punchers
hung horse thieves from high
cottonwood trees
The river that defines the border 
separates Texas from Mexico
is called the Rio Grande
where horses got stolen from the Ramada
Banditos race across and ride back home
with stealth and speed  and the cover of darkness
If they stole your mount you can't punch cattle,
without a horse, your saddle or lariat or ladigo
Day breaks
We crossed the border before sunrise
    and 
riding roughshod after the crafty banditos,
who stole away in the shadows of night,
our horses and cattle in tow
from Texas across the Rio Grande
to Mexico
We round up some horses for the chase
We plan a necktie party for our amigos
hangman’s noose for border thieves
The sounds of horses hooves and guns explode,
There rides the banditos over the bluff
muchas gracias for the chase
    We oblige
Hey Gringos
    They exclaim;
Catch us if you can but beware
We laugh hard and ride fast
cowhands follow with a clamorous fury
They delight in the chase
in the dim light of dawn
dusty ride, as bullets fly and cowhands holler
Brazen banditos live and die for the chase
So we ride with a purpose to please
Muy bueno for our muchachos
but if we catch you cavrons,
you’ll hang from the highest
tree
No mercy for the unfortunate ones
but those who escape
become our lucky amigos
for a chase across the border
for another fine
day
I only asked one favor
if a bullet shortened my cowhands life,
Please drag my carcass back to El Paso
    and
bury me by the  green & peaceful Rio Grande

11/28/01
Copyright © 2000-2001 CJ Clark