the kid rode for seven point three
before the bronc bucked him skyward
but his hand never came loose
tied as it was by a boy
who stuffed snuff in his lip
and said he was gonna win
the kid’s arm twisted like a rope
he ran, but that horse ran faster
and the boy fell under hooves
round they went, over manure,
dirt, skagweed, and shoe nails
the horse whipped him against cattle fence
men on ponies couldn’t stop that horse
finally a clown tackled it
and socked it one in the jaw
cut loose, the boy slid to the ground,
red cheeked, round mouthed,
a rag doll brought in from the cold
