She called me "dear," an' do you know,
My heart jes skipped a beat, an' tho'
I'm hard to feaze, I'm free to yip
[p. 72] My reason nearly lost its grip.
She called me "dear," jes sweet an' slow,
An' lookin' down an' speakin' low;
An' if I had ten lives to live,
With everything the world could give,
I'd shake 'em all without one fear
If 'fore I'd go she'd call me "dear."
You wonders why I slicks up so
On Sundays, when I gits to go
To see her — well, I'm free to say
She's like religion that-a-way.
Jes sort o' like some holy thing,
As clean as young grass in the spring;
An' so before I rides to her
I looks my best from hat to spur —
But even then I hain't no right
To think I look good in her sight.
If she should pass me up — say, boy,
You jes put hobbles on your joy;
First thing you know, you gits so gay
Your luck stampedes and gits away.
An' don't you even start a guess
That you've a cinch on happiness;
Fer few e'er reach the Promised Land
If they starts headed by a band.
Ride slow an' quiet, humble, too,
Or Fate will slap its brand on you.
[p. 73]
The old range sleeps, there hain't a stir.
Less it's a night-hawk's sudden whir,
Or cottonwoods a-whisperin while
The red moon smiles a lovin' smile.
An' there I set an' hold her hand
So glad I jes can't understand
The reason of it all, or see
Why all the world looks good to me;
Or why I sees in it heap more
Of beauty than I seen before.
Fool talk, perhaps, but it jes seems
We're ridin' through a range o' dreams;
Where medder larks the year round sing,
An' it's jes one eternal spring.
An' time — why time is gone — by gee!
There's no such thing as time to me
Until she says, "Here, boy, you know
You simply jes have got to go;
It's nearly twelve." I rides away,
"Dog-gone a clock!" is what I say.
R. V. Carr.
THE BULL FIGHT
THE couriers from Chihuahua go
To distant Cusi and Santavo,
Announce the feast of all the year the crown —
Se corren los toros!
And Juan brings his Pepita into town.
The rancherias on the mountain side,
The haciendas of the Llano wide,
Are quickened by the matador's renown.
Se corren los toros!
And Juan brings his Pepita into town.