A Horse Trade with Frank

Me and Barry Mc were sitting in the shade, drinking coke and trying to stay cool,
I watched little ripples a stone made he skipped across the pool.

He said I've got to sell my horse, ain't got no hay,
Would you buy a four year old mare today?

He said she's big and stout and got a lot of try,
But she's bad sway backed, and I ain't going to lie.

I said I would go get her in my dad's truck,
And pay him fifty dollars when I sold her and made a buck.

I expected her to be brown or chestnut or even bay,
When she was a roan and white paint it made my day.

Her back was really bad,
But I had two blankets and a big thick saddle pad.

All tacked up she looked like a big, pretty, pregnant mare,
A right pretty sight standing over there.

I cheeked her up and swung my leg across her back,
Like on coiled springs she jumped right out of her track.

The reins were in my left hand the saddle horn my right,
My eyes were darting around, looking for a soft place to light.

Suddenly she quit bucking and stood there in the Sun,
As if to say I was only having a little fun.

I rode her over and tied her in the shade,
Sat down on a big stump while my final plan was made.

I backed the truck in a ditch, let the tail gate down,
Jumped her in the back and headed off to town.

I pulled up in front of the mule barn and honked on the horn,
Frank came out, working on a pair of chaps that were torn.

He said what you got there snail?
He never seemed to care that my name is Dale.

I said a four year old saddle mare,
Bought her in the country about twenty miles over there.

How much is she he hollers?
I said two hundred and fifty dollars.

He said get her off, let's see her ride,
Right there in the middle of town , I unloaded her spotted hide.

As I led her through the gate into the riding pen,
My mind was making that bronc ride once again.

I swung across her back and she trotted off nice as ever,
He said that ain't no saddle mare,and I like her even better.

Frank asked, is that mare in foal?
I said she's been running with a bay stud, as I realized I was about to reach my goal.

He said I'll give a hundred and twenty five dollars if you want to make a trade,
I said get me a halter this trade is already made.

I tied her to the rack,
Over the window of the room where Frank kept his tack.

Hung my bridle on the saddle horn, laid my girth across the saddle seat,
And waited for the check on some mighty itchy feet.

The check was correct and went into the pocket of my shirt,
I pulled my tack and my feet hit the dirt.

As I walked away I heard Frank groan,
I'll learn to buy one with the saddle on.

Dale Hensley
June, 2003