Well now friends you'll never guess it so I really must confess it <br />I just met the sweetest woman of my long dismal life. <br />But a friend of mine said, 'Buddy, just in case your mind is muddy, <br />Don't you know that girl you're fooling with is Peg-Leg Johnson's wife. <br />And that man is big and rough and mean and grim, <br />And he'll brain you with his artificial limb. <br />But next morning bright and early I stole old Peg-Leg's girlie, <br />And I also took his wooden leg just to play it safe. <br />But there weren't no time for laughter 'cause he started hopping after, <br />And I keep on running faster but he won't give up the chase. <br />And I'm running through the mountain with his bride, <br />And I got his wooden leg here by my side. <br />I'm a three-legged man with a two-legged woman <br />Being chased cross country by a one-legged fool. <br />Though he's huffing and he's puffing and he shows no sign of stopping, <br />I tell you, boys, this life is hard and cruel. <br />'Cross the deserts and the valleys and the dark Chicago alleys <br />'Cross the mighty Mississippi to the hills of Caroline. <br />Through the mountains of Montana and the swamps of Louisiana <br />Everytime that I look back he's JUST one foot behind. <br />And I know he must be cold and wet and sick, <br />But in spite of all his woes he can kick. <br />Now he's ragged and he's filthy, and I'm feeling mighty guilty <br />'Specially in the evenings when I hear him plead and beg. <br />He says 'In spite of all your stealing friend, I bear you no hard feelings. <br />You can keep that darned old woman but please give me back my leg.' <br />'Cause although the one you meant to take was wooden <br />In the dark by mistake you took my good'un.<br /><br />Sheldon Allan Silverstein<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/three-legged-man/
