Prairie Legends

If there are tumbleweeds in Massachusetts
Barber Davis claims credit for the weeds.

A tourist seeking new
Christmas decorations
drove off with four in his trunk.

Barber Davis, straight-faced, claimed
ownership,
asking and receiving,
two bits for each weed.

"Fool said he was gonna paint ‘em silver.
Put little bells on ‘em," he laughed while
pocketing the quarters and retelling the tale
for the first of many, many retellings.

"Seems the further east ya go, the dummer they get,"
said to nodding, knowing heads all around. "I never
been east of Omaha," the prideful boast.

©William Davis 1998