Nature Sonnet

Pa swapped the sorrel horse the other day,

     Because he thought it was awful slow,

     For one that seemed to have a lot of go,

And paid some cash to boot, I heard him say,

After the man had smiled and drove away.

     Pa said it took too long to drive to town,

     That after this he’d do the trip up brown,

And get back home in less’n half a day.

This morning he hitched up and like a shot

     He went sky-hootin’ down the road to town;

     But when he tried to start for home the clown

He balked, and wouldn’t budge from off the spot.

Pa walked, and late that night ma heard him say

He’d like to give that one way horse away.

Jan. 5, 1917