Cowboy Poetry and Western Verse
Lash Larue
By Thomas M. McDade
At age ten, I showed no mercy
To vulnerable willow trees
Clocking each and every bough
I never rested until I found
One with snap, span and sinew
To create an imitation Lash LaRue
First cowboy to wear all black
Johnny Cash acknowledged that
Dubbed King of the Bullwhip
He did the stunts in every script
Dead in ninety-six at seventy-nine
A photo with caption hit the Times
That bragged: “Lash could pick
A flower with a whip flick.”
Six months prior in Tinseltown
He felt himself comeback bound
Like twelve marriages and divorces
Life was remounting cranky horses
I considered horticultural damage
Maiming a few whip trees in homage
But middle age supplied an excuse
So I snapped a wet towel salute
Fit to yank a willow up by its roots
|
