Otis and Oscar were sheepherders;
in the mountains all the time.
The city elite and those discrete
thought this was mighty fine.

A mangy lot they were, for sure,
(they'd not bathed in quite a spell).
I will be brief...it's my belief,
those boys emitted a smell.

They hit the town on a runnin' drunk,
as sheepherders often will,
And drank on sight the old snake-bite
to the tune of the barkeep's till.

They hit the highbrow spots in town,
with money in their jeans.
And then, by gum, they wanted some
fancy "city" beans.

They staked an elegant restaurant out
-- ignoring the stares of ice
from those whose noses smelled no roses --
their manners not so nice.

Then halfway through the steak and beans
a lady to the side
Grabbed her throat, gasped and choked;
dropped, like she had died.

Those elite town clowns stood around
like lumps of unrendered lard.
Finally, Otis says to Oscar,
"We better do'er, pard."
They hustled over to where she lay.
Oscar dropped down on all fours.
With no time to waste, his hands in haste
ripped off her frilly drawers.

Then Otis and Oscar puckered up
and kissed the old gal on the rear.
She coughed and spit; her chokin' quit;
her breathing now was clear.

"Yea!   We saved her hide," old Oscar cried.
"I'm sure glad it got to 'er.
It's my concern, why can't folks learn
this simple Hind-kiss Mc'nuver?"





(play me!)

Ben Stewart Aitken was born in 1935 and raised on a cattle ranch near the Salmon River. He is presently a self-employed trucker. Ben lived several years in Weippe, Idaho, where he owned and operated his own business. He's an experienced pilot, and enjoys traveling.

Ben started writing when he was about twenty-two years old. He's from a long line of poets and has published a book titled "Four Generations of Idaho Poetry." He often performs cowboy poetry and has a great time doing it.

The father of three girls, Ben lives with wife Phyllis on a small acreage in Nampa, Idaho.

Barbwire Ben is one cowpoke you won't want to miss seeing perform if ever given the chance. Why, I've seen him wear a bonnet, a rain hat and slicker, wield a fly-swatter, and spout more poems from memory than most folks have ever read.

I sincerely thank Mr. Aitken for allowing us to post this small example of his varied talents for the cyber-pokes viewing this site.

I've had the pleasure of performing with Ben several times, and couldn't resist posting here a picture I snapped on one of those occasions. This photo of Ben and his wife Phyllis was taken during the Oregon Trail Celebration at Three Island Crossing (on the Snake River near Glenns Ferry, Idaho). The annual event is always a lot of fun and one of my personal favorites. If you ever get to southern Idaho, stop in for some great chow, country music, and entertainment. I'm sure the kind folk on the river will make you feel right at home.