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Show THE DEVIL'S CIRCLE I must have been sick as a dog last night, with chills and fever-I felt a fright. When finally I dozed for a little spell I dreamed that I died and went to hell. I wasn't surprised at my hellish fate but Satan, himself, met me at the gate. That the gate was old, with a gate stick broke, was surely the devil's private joke. But we shook hands, he smiled and then said he, "Where in Hades have you been? You're late, you know... and you're overdue for the job I've been savin' up for you... I've a million miles of barbed wire fence. I think, with your experience, You can patch it up for my devilish steers in just about ten thousand years. But take your time-You might as well... Time means nothing at all in hell!" The gate to Hades was old and wide. The fence stretched outward on either side For a million miles, so the devil said... I heaved a sigh as I bent my head. If one thing's worse than a burning hell it's patchin' up a wire fence! Well, I patched the gate then I headed west, determined to give it my level best. I've always been loyal, dependable too, and rearin' to give the old devil his due. The years rolled along to nine nine ninety-nine. I reached the east portal exactly on time But Satan stood there and he said, with a leer, "This gate ain't been mended in ten thousand year- Get at it!" Alas, I could see 'ere he spoke the same old gate with a gate stick broke. It dawned on me then, from that moment hence, I'd be patchin' holes in an endless fence. I woke with a yell from that terrible dream, thankful life's trials aren't bad as they seem! Cowboy Poetry From Utah 55 |