Tall Tale

Tall Tale


"It war mid December and I figured at last
If I don't go now I'll never make the pass"
Red began to spin his yarn, sitting 'round the table
Most of his old cronies had heard this tired fable


Mount Elbert was covered with snow
To say the least, the climbin' real slow
So cold the mule's feet stuck to the ground
Caught in a blizzard with no way down


"Ceptin' I found a cave with a warm grizzly bear
Crawled right up next to him there
Slept real cozy the whole winter round
In Spring, rode 'em bareback all the way down


The tale didn't sit quite right with one ol' fellar
"That thar's a lie, tell the truth, lessen' yar yellar"
The table went flyin', the cards all over house
"C'mon you dog, I'll remove that lie from your mouth"


Before they could throw down or reach for their guns
The bartender brought up a double barrel shotgun
"I don't care if you rip each other from ear to ear
But you ain't bustin' up this place, take it outta here"


They made for the double doors, their anger real plain
Peering out at a street of an ocean of mud and rain
They grimaced at each other and then stared at the street
Looked over at the shotgun then down at their feet


Red spoke first with an eye full of glimmer
"Well, maybe it war April and not really December
I just got caught in an early Spring flurry
Kinda mosied on down, warn't in no hurry"


Reckon this old cogger decided to tell the truth
When he was met with a little nasty reproof
Guess it would make just a much better business
To do like the Good Book says and not bear false witness

Ron Secoy