THE OLD COWBOY

He sat on bunk house porch giving out unwanted advice and spinning tales from a time long 8gone by.
Most of the his stories  were based in some truth but some were just bald face lies.

He had been a cowboy  for nigh 50 years and he loved the cowboy way.
There wasn't much he could do these days. but he'd been part the ranch now for 42 years so the boss just let him stay.

Most every dayHe doned his chaps and spurs though it had been 5 years since he sat in the saddle or held onto the reins.
But they say there was a time, back in the daThat as horseman  the old man was as good as they came

He'd sweep out the bunk house a couple times a day and helped the old cook make the grub.
They say that the name his parents had given him was Robert but everyone just called him bub.

He tended  the horses  and kept the tact in good shape  and gererally just piddled around.
His back hurt a bit and and his hearing was bad but his mind was still fairly sound.

He would tell you a joke as he lit up a smoke that he had just rolled with one hand.
At night he would pull out his harmonica and play out of tune like  somekind of one man band.

He'd drive into town a few days a month in a pickup  that he'd bought back in 72
Some belived he went to visit a woman but reason he went to town a few times a month nobody really knew

He had been alive now for 82 years, and when asked what his life had been like, he quote jimmy buffet and say
Son, some of it's been magic and some of it's been tragic but i've had a good life anyway.

Then he'd go back to seting on the porch giving out unwanted advice and spinning  tales from a time long gone by.
And Most of his  stories  were based in some truth and some were just bald face lies.
© terry colby