EIGHT SECOND RIDE
Standing by the rodeo bleachers a cowboy named Stan
watches the penned bulls with his bull rope in his hand
The cowboy is trying to get his nerves to subside
because his turn is next for his eight second ride
The cowboy freezes and stares in awe
as he hears the announcement of his luck of the draw
The cowboy’s fear flows like the tide
he just tilts his hat and plans his eight second ride
The bull he has drawn is mean and wild
this cowboy has to ride a bull named Flower Child
The cowboy stares at the majestic creature in the shoot
he knows if he can stay on this monster, he will win all the loot
The cowboy moves toward his nemesis with a long fast stride
he climbs on the gate and readies himself for his eight second ride
Flower Child is also ready and dances side to side with pride
ready to make this seem like the longest ever of his eight second rides
The cowboy slowly mounts Flower Child from the side
wraps the rope around his hand and raises the other to signal ready for his eight second ride
There aren’t many rules that the cowboy must abide
but he must keep his free hand up and high for his eight second ride
ONE: The bull jumps from the shoot all four legs off the ground
before it’s legs touch down Flower Child has spun completely around
TWO: Airborne again Flower Child turns to the left and jumps to the right
after a complete spin his hind legs hit the ground with a jolting might
THREE: Jumping up, the bull comes down like a charge of TNT causing the cowboy to slide
trying to keep his balance and not end his ride, the cowboy shifts from side to side
FOUR: Flower Child spins in a circle, like a dog chasing it’s tail
as he turns, his hind legs kick up trying to make the cowboy bail
FIVE: Flower Child, as if set to music, dances to and fro
jumping up and down tries to give the cowboy a throw
SIX: Moving left then spinning right the bull become airborne
the cowboy is thrown forward, very close to the horns
SEVEN: Flower Child begins to spin, spin, spin
the cowboy’s hat flies off in the wind
EIGHT: The sound of the whistle hits his ear
and now there is a new fear
The cowboy sits on top of this beast all alone
there is no escape, there is no help, he must get off this monster on his own
With the bull flying high, the cowboy throws his leg to the side
in a cloud of dust he hits the dirt hard ending his eight second ride
The bull snorts and saliva flies as he charges the cowboy that’s down
but is intercepted by a wild and crazy colorful clown
Running, the cowboy grabs his hat and into the fence he collides
through the fence to the other side he dust himself off and gets ready for his next eight second ride
STANLEY HENDRIX
