Duck and Jump

[thestoryteller]

DUCK AND JUMP

To breeding good horses old Uncle Jim knew
not any old horse was going to do.
The string that he had it was known far and wide
and this fine repute was worn with great pride.

Jim had this one view which he always had held.
each year keep one colt, the others he’d geld.
This was a tough job but it had to be done,
though Jim knew quite well the job was no fun.

To gelding young colts to old Jim was an art,
but prided himself at playing the part.
He’d round up the men and the orders sure flew
and heaven help those not seeing them through.

The first thing Jim did was to lasso the neck
and give you the rope to keep it in check.
You stood in the middle out there in the yard
and this one could do it wasn’t too hard.

Jim then threw a rope on the foreleg as well
then gave it to you and man it was hell.
With both of the ropes you then followed it ‘round,
one high in the air and one near the ground.

There’s just one more rope that old Jim has to throw
it goes round the hind leg, tricky you know.
Then once it’s secure then your mates give a hand
and hopefully things then go as you’ve planned.

Two blokes pull the leg ropes and run for a post
while you pull the neck rope, pulling the most.
The horse goes off balance and falls then for sure
and leg ropes and horse are held there secure.

This effort’s a chore that we call duck and jump
‘cause if you miscue you land with a thump.
And one is required to be mentally strong,
but let me explain just how things go wrong.

The neck and the foreleg ropes were all in tow
and one was up high the other down low.
Jim went for the hind leg though played duck and jump.
His big heart working, like some petrol pump.

The horse trotted round and I worked both the ropes,
poor Jim in between us trusting in hopes.
Then just as the horse it was circling once more,
Jim it would seem had forgotten the score.

It’s true he remembered that he had to duck
but missed with the jump and was out of luck.
The rope caught his two legs and it was good night.
Old Jim hit the ground and man what a sight.

He lay on his back in the dust on the ground
though no one dared utter a single sound.
We all kept straight faces less things should turn dim.
He’d failed duck and jump did our Uncle Jim.

© Merv Webster

From the book Tales of Uncle Jim.

[Shelley Hansen]

Ouch!

You are certainly prolific with your verse, Merv!

Cheers
Shelley

[thestoryteller]

Been doing it for twenty odd years Shelley and enjoyed the journey and shared it with lots of folk.

Appreciate your dropping by.


Merv.