Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE INSULT by ANONYMOUS

First Line: I'VE SWUM THE COLORADO WHERE SHE RUNS CLOSE DOWN
Subject(s): COWBOYS;DRINKS & DRINKING;RANCH LIFE;WEST (U.S.); SOUTHWEST;PACIFIC STATES;

I'VE swum the Colorado where she runs close down to hell;
I've braced the faro layouts in Cheyenne;
I've fought for muddy water with a bunch of howlin' swine
An' swallowed hot tamales and cayenne;

I've rode a pitchin' broncho till the sky was underneath;
I've tackled every desert in the land;
I've sampled XX whiskey till I couldn't hardly see
An' dallied with the quicksands of the Grande;

I've argued with the marshals of a half a dozen burgs;
I've been dragged free and fancy by a cow;
I've had three years' campaignin' with the fightin', bitin' Ninth,
An' I never lost my temper till right now.

I've had the yeller fever and been shot plum full of holes;
I've grabbed an army mule plum by the tail;
But I've never been so snortin', really highfalutin' mad
As when you up and hands me ginger ale.



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