T. TODD THURMAN
Northern California
About T. Todd Thurman
The Old Man of El Centro
I want to tell ya a story, 'bout an old man I met the other day,
When I happened into this little old bar
Back down El-Centro way.
Well he was standin' back at the corner there,
An old straw hat kicked back on his head.
He motioned me over to where he stood
And this is what he said.
He said "Son I've been around now for quite some time,
and I'd like to tell ya a story or two if you don't mind."
Well I'm the kind a fella that likes a good yarn,
Hell, there wasn't nothin' else goin' on in that old drinkin' barn.
So I asked the barmaid to bring us a couple of cold beers,
He nodded thanks and started to fold back the years.
Well, he squinted his vision through bifocal glasses
Like he was starin' back down them dusty old trails
and them cold mountain passes.
He started to talk of the old times, times long gone
and about those who'd wrassled the desert
To make that valley a home.
He spoke of wagon wheels and trace chains,
And spirit filled places with old Mexican names.
Yeah there was saddle leather and sage brush
in every word that he spoke.
He talked about the times he'd felt rich
And about the times he was broke.
He swelled up with pride when he spoke of his Bride,
Forty some years she'd rode by his side.
He choked up a good bit when he said she'd died.
Well, he talked of flood and drought,
The things he knew and the things he thought about.
And when he was done, he said "That's all I got to say."
"But it's been sure kind of you to listen to an old man rattle on
that-away."
I said "Mister, the pleasure here's been all mine.
It's time well spent for me, 'cause in your stories Sir, I've gained a
memory."
Well he slapped me on the back with a recognized smile,
We order'd up a couple more beers and just stood there and talked a while.
We talked about the things we knew and the things we thought about,
'till the barmaid rang the bell and said "It's time you boys got out."
Well, he went his way and, I went mine.
But we spent a lot of years together
In that short little time.
So if you're ever in a little old bar back down El-Centro way,
And ya come across an old man
That say's he's got somethin' to say,
Buy him a beer, and lend him an ear, and make sure that ya treat him kind.
'Cause that old man is an old friend of mine.
© 1994, T. Todd Thurman
About T. Todd Thurman:
I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, didn't do much "cowboy'n" but
sure worked my tail off while every body else did! Spent twenty years in
the U.S. Marine Corps and retired to Northern California where I married me
the purtiest little blue eye'd farm girl you ever saw! I've been writing
short stories and poetry "ever since I learned to work a pencil."
We sure do like havin' folks' poems.
Most poems here are entered in our Lariat Laureate Competition. If you're a poet and not entered, well, how come not?
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