COWBOY POETRY: Our Juniper Tree

Cowboy poet Bryce Angell

This time of year, I’m always thinking ‘bout a Christmas tree. When I was young my father cut a juniper for free.

Today a tree is spendy. I’d say dang near fifty bucks. And that is nothing special if you’re shooting for deluxe.

I’ve always been the sort of guy who some might say is cheap. But, I knew I’d find a Christmas tree my pocketbook could keep.

I set my mind to thinking. “I should cut a juniper. I’d be just like my father. I don’t need a conifer.”

So, I headed for the desert looking for a Christmas tree. A juniper for Christmas was the cheapest way for me.

I drove on through a foot of snow, not much for my old truck. Then slid into a four-foot drift. The truck was dang sure stuck!

I spun a tire right off the rim and down to desert dirt. Then did some top rate cussing! It for darn sure didn’t hurt.

I guess I had some luck that day. My spare was up to snuff. How did I know, to get a tree, would ever be this tough?

I finally found a juniper; a perfect Christmas tree. My chainsaw buzzed on through the stump, right into my left knee.

The price of fifty stitches, from the doctor bill to me, seemed a little bit excessive just to have a Christmas tree.

And the cost of one new tire, not to mention all the gas. I guess I should bend over. Someone kick me in the rear!

The juniper had surely made a Christmas tree delight. My wife exclaimed, “Our Christmas tree was surely worth the fight!”

“My Dear,” I said. “Please take a photo of our Christmas tree. ‘Cuz from now on a picture of a tree is all you’ll see.”

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