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Cowboy Poetry and Western Verse
RUSTLERS ON THE TRAIL
By: Wayne Brown 2013
The rustlers hit us once again late last night
Took a few more head then stole from sight
If this keeps up at this rate along this ol’ trail
We’ll make it up to Abilene with no herd to sell
They got half of Jed Davis’ herd of fat steers
Makin’ up for that loss will cost him some years
Rustlers care nothing for another man’s sweat
Just wanting the things that they can easily get
What kind of a man steals another man’s cows?
Damn sure not the kind for hand-shakes and vows
If we catch ‘em at it, bet our guns will be bangin’
And if we get ‘em alive, there could be a hangin’
Slim Tom spotted a camp over in the far draw
I reckon it could be them cattle-thieving outlaw
We’ll put together a plan as we sit by the fire
And surprise them boys at sunrise tomorrow
We ride at midnight to surround ‘em in the draw
Sent Ed Jeter to town to fetch that Johnny Law
Hangin’s the best thing for ‘em but we’ll not stew
Let the judge and jury give them their just due
We tie our horse in the trees; move quiet in the dark
Their camp fire is burned down; just coals and spark
They really are confident; no one of them on guard
We’ll get these boys alive and it won’t be very hard
Awright! I shout roll out with those hands in the air!
Rustlers jump to their feet looking here and there
They’re not equipped to run without guns or boots
They can’t see in the dark; don’t know where to shoot
By sunrise we’ve got ‘em all; roped, bound, and tied
John Law has arrived and off soon they will slowly ride
We found the cows in the draw; no other evidence needed
Time for the law to show how rustlers ought to be treated
The rustlers gone to the jail, we head the herd to Abilene
Praying there’s no rustlers around here or places in between
Delivered live on the hoof; these cows lookin’ really swell
Somethin’ says our luck might change startin’ with this sell
If you got business ‘tween Waco and Abilene on the ol’ trail
You better be punchin’ cows or have something good to sell
We don’t cotton much to thieves desiring to take our herd
We’ll see that you get caught; for that you’ve got my word
©Copyright WBrown2013. All Rights Reserved
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