Codweed was a huge Appaloosa gelding owned by J.D. Prosise, the man we bought Rascal from. The facts of both Codweed stories are true. I presented both poems to J.D., and he said, “Yep, that’s just the way it happened.”

Codweed
I once knew this guy from Oakalla,
   had horses live right in his yard.
He owned an old Chevy Impala,
   and a pickup he drove – really hard.
                    The house had a fence all around it,
                        in a manner of speaking I guess.
                    You see, them horses had pound it
                        into pieces, and made quite a mess.
Those horses thought they were just family,
   especially that old Appaloos’.
That lop-eared horse was just simply
   as bold as an old barnyard goose.
                      He was known to us only as Codweed.
                          Though I never knew how he’d been named.
                      The whole world to him was for horse feed.
                         You might consider him overly tamed.
He stood sixteen and a half, or three quarters,
   ate his feed from the bed of that truck.
Sampled everything from leather to mortar,
   and never collicked on the junk in his gut.
                        His search for cuisine finally drove him
                           to looking for food ’round that house.
                        So he walked all around it, just nosin’
                           the windows and porch – like a mouse.
The latch on the door wasn’t fastened,
   which led him right into the kitchen.
When they got home, they heard dishes crashin’
   and got him out, but only by twitchin’.

The Continuing Saga of Codweed
The continuing saga of Codweed
   is not one you’ll likely forget.
The horse that lived for horse feed
   was JD’s lifelong pet.
                       Twenty-three years is a long time
                          for a man and his faithful friend.
                       Tho’ Codweed was getting along jus’ fine,
                          his days were wearin’ thin.
That Appaloos’ would wait each day
   next to the entrance gate,
Watchin’ down the road for Jay
   a’hopin’ he wouldn’t be late.
                       And so that fateful day came,
                         JD arrived at home,
                      With Codweed by the gatepost,
                         standin’ there alone.
He was leanin’ like he’s sleepin’,
   so JD didn’t flinch.
But when he came out to feed him,
   Codweed hadn’t moved an inch.
                     “Wake up ol’ boy!” he hollered,
                        but Codweed didn’t budge.
                     So Jay walked up and slapped him,
                        and gave him a strong ol’ nudge.
“Hey boy, what’s the matter?”
   and he pushed him in the side.
T’was then that horse fell over,
   and JD knew he’d died.
                       But the cowpoke wasn’t willin’
                          to give up on his trusted steed,
                       So he ran in the house a searchin’
                          the tool he thought he’d need.
He found it quick, and gave a shout,
   “Hang in there, ol’ buddy, ol’ Cod!”
Here he came a runnin’ all out –
   in his hand was the cattle prod!
                         The horse was layin’ on the ground
                            with his mouth a’hangin’ open.
                         With his own heart now startin’ to pound,
                             JD was prayin’ and hopin’.
The first time that he zapped his rump,
   he thought he saw a jerk.
“Did you see that? I thought he jumped!
   This darn thing just might work!”
                          The second jolt was strong enough
                             to make that ol’ hoss stand.
                          But comin’ back from the dead is tough!
                             After two steps, he collapsed again.
But now JD was fightin’
   Seein’ what he’d done.
“C’mon ol’ boy!” he bellered,
   and he gave him another one!
                           This time that horse was ready,
                              and he jumped up to his feet!
                           In a minute, he was steady,
                              a’lookin’ for something to eat!
THREE LONG YEARS have now depart’,
   since that fateful day,
When Codweed got a jump start,
   given the cowboy way!
                           It just may never happen
                              Codweed gives up the ghost again.
                           He’s afraid of gettin’ a zappin’
                              from JD, his lifelong friend!

Frank Knight