FREIGHT TRAIN
     by Hilma (Volcano) Volk

Freight Train was a coal black hoss,
Big and smart and bold.
On this ranch he was the boss.
Had every trick down cold.

Weren't no fence could keep him in,
Could open any gate.
With Houdini he was kin.
'Bout that was no debate.

He had a sense of humor though,
Least so it seemed to me.
He'd sneak out at night
And enjoy himself a spree.

He might steal a jacket from the shed
And leave it in a tree,
Or scare the jeebers out of Fred
When he went outside to pee.

There'd be strange noises out the door -
Too dark to tell what's there.
What to do, we weren't sure.
Was it Freight Train or a bear?

Freight Train liked to sneak around
In Midnight camouflage'
Leave our laundry on the ground
And hoof prints on the Dodge.

Sometimes I'd go out in the morn
To fetch and put him back.
Been out all night (I'd have sworn)
That Freight Train steed of black.

But he'd be grazing with the rest,
As sweetly as can be.
'Cept we both knew he'd got the best
Of my old Fred and me.