Ol' Bob's Vision
Ol' Bob was nearin' eighty when he laid down on his bed.
The bunkhouse seemed a lonely place to wind up cold and dead.
I asked ol' Bob to tell me if he thought his time was up.
He said he didn't know for sure and drank from his tin cup.
Said his gizzard tied in knots and started in to pound -
Felt like his cinch come undone and his saddle flopped around
I seen him close his eyes real tight and breathe a little deep
"What do you see," says I."I can tell that you ain't asleep."
"I ain't sure what I'm seein', boy.Seems like it's when I'm dead.
But I cain't tell if it's heaven or somethin' else instead."
He said," I can see Slim, but ol' Curly ain't nowhere there.
An' Johnny Ridge stands next to Slim, but Jim ain't anywhere."
"There ain't no hosses grazin' 'round or any bein' rode.
No dogs or cats are hangin' 'round the barns down by the road."
"No women there at all," says Bob,"What kinder place is that?
Don't know if I'd be happy there if I cain't tip my hat."
About that time the doc came in and looked Bob over well.
"Stop eatin' that damn chili or you're gonna go to hell!"
Bob got well the very next day an' saddled up his horse.
Rode to church and said a prayer and cut out chili, of course.
He still worries about his soul, recalls that vision well -
Half his friends went to heaven and the other half's in hell.
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