About the Year '72 Part 1

About the year '72 I mean nineteen hundred and '72 It's a year we'll not forget The snow began October 1st Day after day there was more and to make it worse The winds were fierce, The snow did move Covering up any and everything in it way Billy would plow us out As I'd take the kids to school, Wait for me and plow me back in was the rule. He'd then be free to begin his feeding chores He had a cleat tractor, (I called it a cat) Which he used to dig out the hay stacks and feed with He’d cable the stack onto the hay sled And head for the pastures where the cattle were fed He’d put it in low gear and climb aboard the stack of hay And pitch it to the eager critters along the way Pasture after pasture, herd after herd Until a stack and a half had been fed. He’d park the rig. In his pickup were the tools to break the ice in the tanks Usually an axe and the pitch fork it’d take He’d chop up the ice and pitch it out of the tank Giving the cattle fresh water to drink Twice and sometime three a day To make sure the water would help wash down the hay This accomplished he’s scatter mineral cubes To ensure the health of his herd. Then and only then would he come into dinner And a chance to get warm before he went out again The remainder of the day was spent Digging out hay for the next days feed. Which usually had to be dug out again the next morn. Chopping more ice to clear the water supply. When time came to get the kids he’d drop all And plow me out and plow us back in When we were home safe he’d be off to the shop To work on equipment that was in need of repair To be ready to go to work the next day