
Yes,
Ma’am. Just Call Me Slim
Copyright ©1999 Michael S. Robinson
A
rancher is a lean machine--like cowboys of the stage;
but
lately I’ve been noticin’ the spread of middle age.
My
stomach’s started bulgin; I
ain’t lookin’ tough an’ trim,
an’
I’ve gotta save my nickname--everybody
calls me "Slim
So
I go to Marvin’s Sporting Goods and buy some shoes ‘n’ shorts,
and
a fine, precision stopwatch with a movement run by quartz.
It’s
a cool Montana mornin’ as I pull my Nike’s on,
and
the sky’s a pink carnation in a picture-perfect dawn.
All
the cattle, they’re a-sleepin’, but they rise to show respect.
(I
know they don’t know better, but it’s sure a nice effect!)
The
prairie dogs are standin’ at the edges of the road,
and,
disgustin’, green and warty, comes the croakin’ of a toad.
I’ve
run near seven miles and it’s heatin’ up a bit.
(I’d
quit, but it’s the only way to make my Wranglers fit.)
I’m
back at six, and weigh-in shows I’ve lost pret’-near a pound,
but
reflectin’ in the mirror shows I’m lookin’ kind o' round.
It’s
hard, but I’ll continue, ‘cause I want to be my best,
and
cut a handsome picture in my jeans and leather vest.
Tomorrow
I’ll run further; Yup, I’ll
have to run a bunch