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The Henson rodeo rules were real clear
As to what gear a bull rider could use;
And breakin' the rules was a big offense:
Prize and reputation a man could lose.
Stanum Two-Trees had ridden well that day
And was at his first first prize for that year
He drew a near-Bufford and when t'was time
He climbed up where only the brave appear.
The eight second bull ride dragged on and on
A week duration each leap of the beast
Stanum was tossed and landed in the dirt
After lastin' nine long seconds, at least.
The first prize was now assured for Stanum,
The crowd cheered five minutes without a lag
And Stanum doffed his hat to the people,
But then the judges ran up a red flag.
They put their heads together for a while
Examinin' with care Stanum's bull rope.
They talked to Buzz Jones, another rider,
Who was second in line for the prize poke.
Stanum's rope, brought by Buzz, had a banned post.
One judge said Stanum was known for cheatin'
The other judges had heard quite enough
So they then quickly adjourned their meetin'.
"Ladies and Gents," the chief judge did announce,
"Stanum Two-Trees has been disqualified,
And a hearin' is scheduled the next night
To see if more sanctions would be applied."
The crowd gasped at the fall of their hero
And Buzz was crowned the day's bull-ridin' king,
Poor Stanum was booed harshly and loudly
As he walked from the fenced rodeo ring.
The hearin' was scheduled for the next night
Stanum's friend Greg said not to show his head:
Buzz was close friends with one of the judges
And would spill again what Stanum had said.
Stanum told Greg that he had not cheated
And had not confided to Buzz one bit:
'Sides, Buzz was not a man known for honor
Buzz wanted respect without earnin' it.
Stanum's wife told him the same thing as Greg:
It was a fool's errand to travel there.
The decision was made and that was that
It was sure, even though it was unfair.
But Stanum said they weren't goin' to meet
Without him sayin' his side to them all.
That he might not prevail he knew full well,
But he was goin' to answer the call.
The meetin' was at the rodeo booth;
The three judges, Stanum, and Buzz were there.
A few more town's folks hung around outside
Givin' Stanum when he came a harsh stare.
The meetin' was pretty much all over
As soon as Buzz said his lies in their ears.
Poor Stanum protested his innocence,
But suspension was leveled for two years.
The papers plastered Stanum so badly
That two years later folks hadn't forgot.
It was nearly three years before Stanum
Was allowed to ride in a Toss About.
But after movin' one place to the next
Hopin' to overcome Buzz's black lie
He was forced to let-off rodeo-in'
And instead give clerkin' tack a good try.
It was five years to the day of his shame,
Stanum was at the Henson Gate Café
With many locals and rodeo fans
In Henson for that year's cow-punchin' fray.
Stanum sat with his wife and two young sons
Unnoticed in the crowd, eatin' home fries,
When up sauntered two men and a woman
Wearin' judges' ribbons, smiles in their eyes.
They stopped at his table and the female
Told Stanum they came from the rodeo.
They had some real important news for him
Which they wanted to bring as a trio.
It seems Buzz had been caught at the same trick
Against a cowboy up Calgary way
And Buzz's old friend the judge was then quizzed,
Confessin' Stanum too they did waylay.
The cow-woman said she was the top judge
And she was chosen to let Stanum know
He would be gettin' at last his old prize
At the finale of the rodeo.
Stanum was joyed to have this old wound salved,
And he profusely thanked the judges three.
The list'nin' crowd whispered their approval
Findin' out now that Stanum was crime-free.
Stanum told the woman not to trouble
By holdin' some special, formal affair.
It was enough for him to hear the news
And he thanked them again for comin' there.
But she told Stanum that she had showed up
To relay these things in a public place
And the same things would be said by bull horn
To the crowd tomorrow, and to his face.
"There's many a cowpoke with prize buckles
Who gets firm pats on the back and acts grand
But you'd a false charge hangin' on your neck
And you walked the walk of an honest man.
"You showed up back then at the rodeo,
Sat the bulls, and won, that infamous day;
And you showed up at the judges' meetin'
Where by stealth your name was stolen away.
"Then you showed up in the sun each day since
Walkin' through a gauntlet of harsh faces,
And you kept ridin' wherever you could --
Unwelcome in most rodeo places.
"Now the wrong of it all is uncovered
And the pure path you have trod is alit
Thus it's only fair your vindication
Has the whole durn town showin' up for it."
Copyright ©2003 Gary Crum. All rights reserved.
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