The Man From Fred
He was a sweaty little man
But tall in the saddle
He didn't know a lot of things
But he knew 'bout cattle
He was born just outside of Fred,
Almost a town - not quite
First thing he saw was sand and dust-
That's all there was in sight
He was born to be a cowboy
Weren't no doubt about that
So he didn't stay in Fred too long-
Went where the cows was fat
His Pa had a section of dirt
One square mile of mesquite
Twenty acres to feed one cow
And it was short on meat
He went to work at age fourteen
An' learned the cowboy's trade
He broke some bones an' got heat stroke
An' sometimes got afraid
Well, that went on for twenty years
'Til all his folks was dead
The land that he had once called home
Was his outside of Fred
He rode home on a borrowed hoss
A dollar in his boot
Had the look of a busted man
Who didn't give a hoot
He rode in through the old ranch gate
All he could do was stare
The place was covered with strangers
Drillin' rigs everywhere
Said they were drillin' for his pa
When he just up and died
So now they guessed that he was boss
An' he swelled up with pride
Well, he got rich, no need to say -
Returned the hoss an' all
Then took the dollar from his boot
An' nailed it to the wall
He drives a brand new pickup now
A Stetson on his head
He ain't a sweaty little man
Now he's The Man from Fred
April, 2016
Judged N/A
For contest 100 In A Row - 11
Date Finalized 8/18/2016
For contest Take The Dagger From My Heart, Please
Copyright © Larry Bradfield | Year Posted 2016
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