RODEO WANNABE
     by Hilma (Volcano) Volk

Bud said he wanted to ride in the rodeo.
I asked him why, he didn't know.
Of course he knew, but it weren't something
He thought he could explain.

A saddle bronc rider he wanted to be.
Didn't make any sense to me -
Get into a chute, hop on a brute,
And endure a lot of pain.

Now I've been bucked off a time or two,
And its something that I'd never do
On purpose mind you, no not me.
I like my horses gentle.

Some guys been practicin' since they were three
On bucking sheep with taped up knee,
Then on to calves at the age of five.
To them its almost simple.

You just don't get on a renegade's back
And expect right off you'll get the knack
Of sitting through turns and jumps and twists
(Not to mention spurrin').

But Bud was determined he was gonna ride.
Weekly at the Fair Grounds he applied
Till one of the regulars broke his leg -
That should have been his curin'.

A watch-eyed paint was his lucky draw.
Always spun left, so was named South Paw.
The veterans offered wise strategy,
Then laughed behind the rookies.

Some high point rides brought the crowd alive.
The announcer called, "Bud Smith, chute five."
South Paw leaped way out and spun.
Bud almost lost his cookies.

Bud kept spinning without South Paw;
Corkscrewed the ground with his jaw.
"Four seconds...Give that boy a hand,
'Cause that's his first ride ever."

A clown brushed him off with a polkadot hat
And quipped, "You made a photogenic splat.
Might as well have yourself a beer.
That horse was very clever."

Next week Bud was back for more,
As if to even up the score
And prove his manhood, as if such things
Would make gals think he's hot.

I watched the chute man flip the gate.
Hooves scribed a wild figure eight.
Bud's face had this most amazin' look
Flyin' off a horse named Sling Shot.

This time the announcer made a joke
About guts landin' in your throat.
"Two seconds! That boy's gonna get killed
'Fore he gets good at bronc ridin'."

Bud never went back to the rodeo.
Stayed away from the boys at the old Ox Bow.
Till one day he seemed himself again -
He'd taken up hang glidin'.