Old Sparky and Joe

Cowboy Joe and his old horse both were now growing old
They’d rode on many a path. They were curious and bold
But they’d known fun days of yesterday but it weren’t the same today
Joe sure loved Old Sparky. “Good friend” You’d hear him say.

Old Sparky had been wild, trained ‘a twisting bronc’ for cowpokes to ride
But old Joe bought him for himself. Kept ‘em close to his very side
There’d been a kinship felt between the two of them you see
One could tell they were meant for each other. T’was as plain as it could be

It started with Joe, broad of shoulder, with legs mighty close to the ground
Who’d hired on a spell or so working as a cowboy clown
It didn’t satisfy his needs enough, so back to new trails he would go
He bought young Sparky with his very last dime.
By ‘itself’ that was quite a show

When they come to narrow trails, Cowboy Joe and Sparky would walk
Side by side in companionship and in silent communion they’d talk
Joe’d never wanted to marry and a long life bachelor he’d be
For the call of the next road to be ventured was all that they could see

He believed in a higher being and called him Papa God
He knowed he’d made the heavens and he knowed he’d made the sod
While he didn’t have his own Bible to guide him down the way
He was one smart cowboy. He held its words in his heart each day

At night by bushes or a tree lined space, maybe with water close by
Joe and Sparky would find ‘em a camp, and Joe would slide down with a sigh
He’d hunt a rabbit or fish if he could,
while Sparky grazed grass from the ground
And when the shadows covered the earth,
they ‘d know that night had come round

Joe’d make a fire for the cookin’ and warmth. Sparky from him would not roam
And for the duration of a night or so this camp would be their home
Before he rolled out the blankets, he kept stored near an old saddle bag
He’d gather up his saddle. With it as a pillow, his head would soon sag

But first he’d sit at the fireside. His eyes would be fixed on the flame
And say “Papa God, if I done bad today, forgive me. I know I’m to blame
I’ll be saying your special prayer not so fancy with words that I know
And I pray you will be patient for I’ve gotten old and slow

My father way on up there, Holy be Your name
May it be on earth as in Heaven, though I know it ain’t the same
Me and Sparky would welcome you whenever you choose to come
But until then, we’ll wait patiently here and pray your will is done

I thank you for providing us with food and drink each day
And for keeping me from temptation as we plod along the way
Thanks for helping me deal with the devil. He’s a mighty cunning snake
He kinda sneaks up on us, tries to help us make mistakes

I know you are right merciful and have power wide and deep
I pray you grant me and old Sparky a safe and peaceful sleep
We’ve both grown old together and Old Sparky you let me love
I pray you’ll grant pasture and water for him when we’ve both rode on above

And having talked some more to God and said a fond Amen
He gathered up his blankets and bunked down near his friend
The day would come when a passerby found Joe and Old Sparky gone
And knowed their souls had flown away with the coming of the dawn

For if only in imagination, we hope that there will be
A place for Joe and Sparky to rest beneath a tree
Near jeweled grass with ‘clover like Gems’, growing to their knees
For we know God loved that cowboy Joe and surely heard his pleas