" been poor most mah life...."

the old fella said

then laid back in the spring grass

and propped up his head.

"cept once when I's a young'n.

Had an ol' black pup

he shore was an on'ry thing.

Nuthin but a mutt!"

The old man rolled back over,

chewed a stalk of grass,

spread his long legs halfway out

and watched a cloud roll past.

"Days like this we use'ta run

to nowhere, or 'til we tired.

oh, we had our fav'rit spots

an places we could hide!"

" Down yonder, by the river,

underneath that bridge.

Had a good one by the railroad tracks.

Twas purty near hid!"

The old man rolled back over,

started to get up,

said "yah, I's just a half grown kid.

he was just a pup....."