The 'smiler' and the 'sad One'

Now this is what ya’ call…a serious feud… The “Smiler” and the “Sad One” Here’s a yarn ‘bout a cattle drive - on an old west Texas run - ‘Bout two old ornery cowhands….and a fight that no one won! They’d quarreled for years until, at last, they came to use the gun, And both would meet their maker there, in 1891. They say the feud began way back in 1885, The very day the two signed on, as hands, to work the drive. It’s said they fought from mornin’ light ‘til sundown would arrive, And bets were made on just how long this pair would - be alive! The one would wear a constant grin - the other seemed forlorn - And in these lands of snakes and thieves a gun was always worn, And what I heard was: As they shaved, one cold December morn, The “smiler” asked the “sad one”….had he - “tired of hoof and horn?” The straight-faced feller glared at him and growled back, “No…I’ve not!” Then backed up toward the campfire - near the dangling coffee pot - And…just before the sun come up…before the air was hot… The lead would fly, and - sure enough - the two men lay there…shot! Now, I ain’t actually sayin’ that what the trail-boss done was right. But he had the boys dig one big hole, then…by the mornin’s light… He rolled them fellers in together! And they say, both day and night… When yer driftin’ past…you still can hear them two old buzzards fight! PS: I've now got 4 new Audio-CDs - @ 4 1/2 hours each = (62 diversely varied pieces). They’re listed on EBAY - under - “Mark Stellinga Poetry” - or available by simply contacting me at -- mark@writerofbooks.com -- should those of you who enjoy listening to poems as well as reading them - and particularly those of you that travel - care to be so entertained. (We use safe and simple - PayPal) There are a bunch of my pieces on YouTube as well --- Cheers, Mark