BULL MOOSE
     by Hilma (Volcano) Volk

The second day out, three miles to go,
Deliverin' a week's supply
To some campers that'd hired my boss,
An outfitter out of Big Sky -

My geldin' froze, his neck got stiff.
Ears perked, he snorted a warning.
My daydreams shook, I followed his gaze
Toward the moose in the trail that morning.

The string of pack mules saw it too -
Started fidgetin' and stompin'
At this huge bull moose (fully decked)
That on a bush was calmly chompin'.

On the right side it dropped off deep.
Left, a steep slope thick with trees.
And a big moose in the middle
That wasn't about to leave.

Now most moose depart when they see you,
But sometimes they'll attack.
Their brains 'bout the size of a walnut -
Smaller the brain the bigger the rack.

He totally ignored us,
Though I whistled and I'd yell
So he wouldn't think Butch was another moose
(I've heard moose don't see too well).

Then his body heaved and quivered,
And he bellowed a monstrous cough.
Butch reared up, I dropped the rope,
And my lead mule took off.

Six mules, tied head to tail,
Raced like stung with electric shock.
Butch spun around, my balance off,
I landed square upon a rock.

Butch turned back to me and blinked,
Amazed to see me lying there.
"Whoa!.....Good Boy...Easy...Whoa!"
A thunderous cough, Butch was nowhere.

The moose was just a munchin' twigs
As I hobbled off to fetch them'
On bruised hip and brand new boots,
Hoping they'd stop so I could catch 'em.

I walked far, the blisters grew.
My hunger burned, the sun went down.
Turned so cold I hadda keep on,
While prayin' for the sun to come aroun'.

At dawn I found the cursed beasts
At the gate to the trail head.
I crawled onto the pickup seat
And fell asleep exhausted.

I awoke with hands around my throat,
My boss screaming in my face
And saying things I can't repeat,
An' that he'd put me in my place.

He yelled, "You're fired!" But I was too tired
To explain, "Boss, it was like this:
We'd have been fine, been right on time,
'Cept for a bull moose with bronchitis."