These are for Big:

[Blu-meanie]

Young cowboy/Old cowboy



A young cowboy walks into the town cafe. He sits at the counter and notices an old cowboy with his arms folded, staring blankly at a full bowl of chili.



After fifteen minutes of just sitting there staring at it, the young cowboy bravely asked the old cowpoke, "If you ain't gonna eat that, mind if I do?"



The older cowboy slowly turns his head toward the young wrangler and in his best cowboy manner says, "Nah, go ahead. "



Eagerly, the young cowboy reaches over and slides the bowl over to his place and starts spooning in it with delight. He gets nearly down to the bottom and notices a dead mouse in the chili. The sight was shocking and he immediately barfs up the chili into the bowl.



The old cowboy quietly says, "Yep, that's as far as I got, too. "





The Fence That Me And Shorty Built

Red Steagall





We’d picked up all the fencing tools

And staples off the road.

An extra roll of “bob” wire

Was the last thing left to load.



I drew a sleeve across my face

To wipe away the dirt.

The young man who was helping me

Was tuckin’ in his shirt.



I turned around to him and said,

“This fence is finally done,

With five new strands of “bob” wire

Shinin’ in the sun.



The wire is runnin’ straight and tight

With every post in line.

The kinda job you’re proud of,

One that stands the test of time. ”



The kid was not impressed at all,

He stared off into space.

Reminded me of years ago,

Another time and place.



I called myself a cowboy,

I was full of buck and bawl.

I didn’t think my hands would fit

Post augers and a maul.



They sent me out with Shorty

And the ranch fence building crew.

Well, I was quite insulted

And before the day was through,



I let him know that I’m a cowboy,

“This ain’t what I do.

I ain’t no dadgummed nester,

I hired out to buckaroo. ”



He said, “We’ll talk about that son,

When we get in tonight.

Right now you pick them augers up.

It’s either that or fight. ”



Boy, I was diggin’ post holes

Faster than a Georgia mole.

But if a rock got in my way

I simply moved the hole.



So when the cowboys set the posts,

The line went in and out.

Old Shorty’s face got fiery red

And I could hear him shout,





Nobody but a fool would build

A fence that isn’t straight.

I got no use for someone who ain’t

Pullin’ his own weight. ”



I thought for sure he’d hit me;

Glad he didn’t have a gun.

I looked around to find a place

Where I could duck and run.



But Shorty walked up to me

Just as calm as he could be.

Said, “Son, I need to talk to you,

Let’s find ourselves a tree. ”



He rolled a Bull Durham cigarette

As we sat on the ground.

He took himself a puff or two

Then slowly looked around.



“Son, I ain’t much on schoolin’,

Didn’t get too far with that.

But there’s a lot of learnin’

Hidden underneath this hat.



I got it all the hard way,

Every bump and bruise and fall.

Now some of it was easy,

But then most weren’t fun a’tall.



But one thing that I always got

From every job I’ve done,

Is do the best I can each day

And try to make it fun.



I know that bustin’ throught them rocks

Ain’t what you like to do.

By getting’ mad you’ve made it tough

On me and all the crew.



Now you hired on to cowboy

And you think you’ve got the stuff.

You told him you’re a good hand

And the boss has called your bluff.



So how’s that gonna make you look

When he comes ridin’ through,

And asks me who dug the holes

And I say it was you.



Now we could let it go like this

And take the easy route.

But doin’ things the easy way’

Ain’t what it’s all about.



The boss expects a job well done

From every man he’s hired.

He’ll let you slide by once or twice,

Then one day you’ll get fired.



If you’re not proud of what you do,

You won’t amount to much.

You’ll bounce around from job to job

Just slightly out of touch.



Come mornin’ let’s re-dig those holes

And get that fence in line.

And you and I will save two jobs,

Those bein’ yours and mine.



And someday you’ll come ridin’ through

And look acrass this land,

And see a fence that’s laid out straight

And know you had a hand



In something that’s withstood the years.

Then proud and free from guilt,

You’ll smile and say, ‘Boys that’s the fence

That me and Shorty built. ’”

 

[BIGNASTY]

Red has a song with the lyrics of that poem, I LIKE THE JOKE !!!!!!!!! that's a good-in Pard

 

[Slow Six]

I like the poem. As a tradesman I appreciate it. I used to get really ****** off when some one did not care how a job looked. It was truly a joy to work with fellow trades people that took pride in their work. There are power lines I built forty years ago and every time I drive by I look at it because it still looks good.