This Place

This old home place

It once belonged to my brother

And I've never felt so at peace

Or comfort at any other.

The horses and birds

demanded and got my full attention

I fed em and watched over them

For days to numerous to mention

Soon the time will come

when I must up and leave it

I'll leave so much the better

than the day that I recieved it.

My commitment was not to a lease

With so many terms to be met

No it was to my departed brother

and to him my word was kept.

I'll miss the gurgle

Of the arroyo choked with chico sticker

and the horses both of them

who'd greet me with welcome nicker

I'll miss the shade

and the big trees that surround her

I'll miss the birds and chimes

That remind of how I found her

No more unsightly junk piles

No heaps of useless litter

It's pretty hard to take my leave

But soon I know I must quit her

Back to work to drive

the highways of our nation

And my stay for the year here

Will seem a great vacation

And my thanks came from Big Don

who cleared matters for me to live here

It is he who says "Well done"

and "come back whenever you are near"

By Ranger Bill