You had to know Spot
    for she’s one of a particular lot.
Here’s to understanding her bovine tone,
    as she’s said to be the best milk cow to own!

She’s standing in the truck bed,
    with a welcoming pat on her head.
She’s now like a wild cyclone.
    NO, NOT the best milk cow to own!

Dad laughed and said, “Get a rope!”
    In a flash, there’s now no hope,
With the rope over her head thrown,
    is the so-called best milk cow not to own!

We hid behind the shed,
    as she tries finding us where we’d fled.
Peering from trees fully grown,
    we watch that milk cow we must not own!

Next hour or so, at the barn door,
    she’s not moving anymore.
Pulling and pushing, we groan,
    to move that stubborn milk cow we don’t want to own!

Standing head down, eyes a glare,
    she considers harm inside that’ll despair.
Feet planted firmly in the unknown,
    is this huge spotted milk cow we shouldn’t own!

Suddenly, in a rage, she lunges to slay,
    hurting myself, getting out of her way.
Skinned my shins to the bone,
    avoiding this nasty milk cow that's not to be owned!

As she bellows in utter defiance,
    she attacks in noncompliance.
The stanchion around her neck was thrown
    on that wild milk cow we somehow now own!

As I think of Spot as smooth as silk,
    Dad said, “She’s yours to milk!”
Dad let it be known,
    she’ll be the best milk cow we own!

I milked her standing, my head on her flank,
    anxiously awaiting another menacing prank.
Holding bent milk pail while doing the task alone
    I tried milking this unruly milk cow we now own!

Stanchion and corral, she’d destroy.
    Being whipped by her tail, there’s no joy.
For there’s a million stinging wet hairs full-blown,
    coming from that mean milk cow currently owned!

Her deadly back hoof my foot she stood upon,
    as her front hoof was a quiet, menacing conn.
Sending all into the gutter to moan,
    now smiling is that defiant milk cow we own!

At forty-five below, I packed water for the herd.
    Passing her, she’s a crocodile deferred.
For on my right thigh, she bites to the bone,
    did that resentful milk cow we mustn’t own!

Startling pain, like an exploding powder keg,
    an unbearable surge screamed up my bitten leg.
Excruciating pain, with a dying groan,
    because of that awful milk cow we shouldn’t own!

This terrible pain renders all irrational,
    ripping my bitten leg from her mouth is emotional.
While yanking and whacking full-blown,
    on the head of that milk cow now disowned!

Separated from her slobbering mouth,
    I grabbed the post nearest to the south.
In relief, I staggered to a protected zone
    away from that grinning milk cow no longer owned!  

Things that came were not sound,

    so I found a job in another town.
As on the farm, tough times were sown
    with the now-content red spotted milk cow we own!

The last time I milked Spot,
    she looked at me and then to the other lot.
Then, through the pasture gate, she didn't roam,
    did this highest-producing milk cow we owned!

As I went back to the fence where she stood,
    she lovingly licks my hands really good.
While behind each ear, I scratch both alone,

    being the kindest spotted milk cow we own!

Slowly and sadly, she did turn,
    as we’ll never together return.
Being the last time, she’s post-ponded,
    because Spot is the best milk cow ever owned!
   
    Tim Kirby
    January 22, 2020