An Ode About Wagon John
An Ode about "Wagon John"
Written: By Tom Wright
8/17/1998
His old whiskered face quite weathered had seen,
Both ends of life’s trail the brown and the green.
Sitting easy in the saddle on "Sugar foot", his horse;
My very first sighting was years earlier of course.
This tall mountain man thin and hard with firm grip,
Was packed out and moving near the Arizona Strip;
As I looked at this man thought’s rushed to my mind.
Like his name, and destination did he get lonely, was he kind?
From the pages of time he seemed to have just stepped,
Leading two Mules, fully packed, freshly shod and prepped.
Through our talk I could tell He didn't need much,
He said all around me are mine to see, hear and touch.
Some things God has placed here to be enjoyed by all,
He gave us beauty in nature, He gave the spring and fall.
These animals I'm feeding, they're not really mine you see,
I'm but God's steward and there a loan from Him to me.
God provides me the water that we need for this trip,
For It's hot and It's dry crossing the "Arizona Strip."
As I shared this man's campsite I so readily could see,
This philosophy he was sharing would surely help me.
With his campsite now broken we departed that place,
I could help not but wonder if again I'd see his face.
Would the years be so kind that we'd meet another day?
Then he mounted old "Sugar foot" and slowly rode away.
These lines I've written are a tribute to " Wagon John,"
May God's hand rest upon him as he travels on.
Then beyond every mountain and around each trail end,
My eyes will be searching for "Wagon John", my friend.
Born from a 5,000 mile pack trip of John's.
Copyright © Tom Wright | Year Posted 2019
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