Blood and bone

If you think you're tough you ain't seen enough I'll tell you about a man

One that didn't complain about pain from when it all began

I met him years ago, hair white as snow, but with only one leg.

As we talked, to the obvious he balked and the question he did beg

But after a few beers, disappeared all fears and the story started

Years ago, fire wood was running low so with my ax I parted

Had cleared the ground all around so took the high trail

I'd cut down a tree that would give me wood through winter without fail

After a while, maybe a mile, found a large dead oak

Started to chop and didn't stop until heard it cracked and broke

Stepping out of the way, a rock came into play, trunk pinning leg to stone

Fight as I might caught in a bite, tons pushing down on my leg bone

As much as I did yell, no one to tell, no one to hear my call

There I lay most all day, sandwiched leg between tree and rock wall

Although It was getting late, thought I'd wait, then came the ants

At the fall of night, felt the first bite, crawling in my shirt and pants

Ruthless and mean, ants will pick you clean, impossible to relax

Without other hope, I started to grope till my hand found my ax

Knowing I'd pass out with the first clout, breathed deep, took off my belt

Wrapped it round my leg, tightened it with a branch peg, pressure felt

Raised the ax high, closed my eye, swung with all my strength

With first whack all went black, came around at length

Thudding pain in my brain, blood everywhere but leg still intact

Took another swing, felt the sting with the force of the impact

With leg severed I endeavored to pull my body free

With ax as a crutch couldn't do much, could only stand by degree

In the gloam I hobbled home had to stop the bleeding

Started a fire, fanned the flames higher, red hot cast iron proceeding

Burnt the stump till just a charred lump, fell on my bed

With a moan broke away the protruding bone, thinking I'd soon be dead

With no sleep, eyes too dry to weep a constant throbbing pain

My fever broke as I awoke and vowed to never do that again