Horses and Camels

[couchgrouch]

Horses and CamelsJoe'd steal his daddy's pony, grab a pack of smokesand ride off in the desert, far from his folkshe'd stay out past sundown, 'neath the Texas skieswhere the tips of his Camels, glowed like firefliesJoe dreamed of riding, that big tme rodeosame as his dad once did, forever agobut working for his father, somehow held him fastand one by one his chances, blew away like ashcos horses and Camelswere all he really lovedand it haunted him, that what might've beenis all there ever wasyeah, horse and Camelswere all he really lovedhis father's back was crooked, and his knees were goneso he did his best keepin', Joe from busting broncsso Joe just shuffled papers, riding time behind a deskdays of regret and dreaming, were his only riskbut when he saw the doctor, 'bout his nagging coughthat night he reined a pony, and just rode offsilver smoke rings floated, off toward barren treesjust like ghostly horseshoes, hanging in the breezecos horses and Camelswere all he really lovedand it haunted him, that what might've beenis all there ever wasyeah, horse and Camelswere all he really lovedthe rodeo hit Houston, and Joe rode at high noonbut just like his life had, the bronc bucked him too soonhe dusted off his Stetson, held a smoke beneath his nosebreathing his dreams deeply, before they gocos horses and Camelswere all he really lovedand it haunted him, that what might've beenis all there ever wasyeah, horse and Camelswere all he really loved(c)2004 Robert George