If Only She'D Been Strong Poem by Nancy Ames

(a country-and-western poem)

The sun just showed a thin red top
to start another Arizona day.
Two old friends were in a truck-stop
next to the endless line of highway.

Ramblin' Johnny turned and said to Dan
'I seen Big Jed the other week.
He used to be an awful wicked man,
walkin' trouble so to speak.

But I'm amazed - he did all right,
'cause getting married saved his life.
They let me stay there overnight
and I sort of got to know his wife.

Man, they got a real nice place
and that woman sure can work.
Jed's got a smile on his fat face
and he hardly never goes berzerk.'

Dan said he never liked big girls,
got up to go, heard Johnny laugh,
'She's just a little thing, with curls
and pretty eyes, his better half.'

Johnny climbed up on his rig,
shut the door and said, 'So long.
Too bad she wasn't very big -
if only she'd been strong.'

If only she'd been strong,
she could have sung this song
and she wouldn't have to say
that she feels fine today.

If only she'd been strong,
days wouldn't last so long,
and he wouldn't have to stay
quite so far away.