Tale of a Horse

by Wayne Wysocki This poem was inspired by a joke going around in the 1970s. There was a man who bought a horse From a rancher known as Joe, But Joe explained things to the man Before he let him go. This horse is strange, the rancher said, You command him not like others; Say "Oh my God" to make him go, To stop, say "Smothers Brothers." He commanded sternly, "Oh my God!" Once mounted on the steed; At once the stallion started off With a frantic burst of speed. Toward a canyon cliff he ran, Across the desert sands; The man, in wild excitement, Forgot the two commands. In fear he cried out random words As fast they neared the drop, Yet still he could not find the phrase To make the stallion stop. He then remembered "Smothers Brothers," And yelled with all his breath; At once the beast slid to a halt An inch away from death. Afraid to move, he gazed upon The canyon deep and broad He wiped his brow, and in relief, He whispered, "Oh my God!"