Riding Down the Decline

The plains have their moments of wild beauty As you ride with morning wind in your hair--- The sage and wide open spaces thrill you As you ride free on that celestial stair. But the hill country is another thing, Although you and your horse start out just fine— You both have to carefully watch your step As you ride down that steady old decline. At first, you don’t really notice a change— A misstep or a small ache in your back— Then you sense you can’t do things you once did And to your thinking there’s a certain lack. Oh, you can still out ride all those young dudes And you’re still relied on in a real pinch— But your step’s a little slower these days And you give slack when once you gave no inch. Gone are the days of those endless trail rides— Your tail bone ain’t the rock it used to be— You’d rather be riding soft rocking chairs, Than on the range where it’s rough and still free. So you slow up your horse on that ride down And look ahead to the clouds and sunshine— As you steady your reigns and your old horse And slowly ease down that long last decline.