Blue Ridge Auction, A Life Bargained

Blue Ridge Auction
( A Life Bargained)

There’s an auction tonight
on the mountain side
Ya see Ole miss Daisy,
she done went and died.

All that’s left is her house,
so I’m told,
and I read in the paper:
CONTENTS TO BE SOLD.

Up on the platform
stood Auctioneer Al.
says,“What’ll ya give me?”
Shows a toothless smile.

“Five dollars, six....
do I hear seven?
Ya’ll don’t shame Miss Daisy
away up in Heaven ”

So I gave him seven
for a voiceless violin!
(Well, I might larn to play
from Young fiddler Jim.)

“Lookee here, folks,
It’s a grand music box
with a china ballerina
a-dancin’ on top.

I gives you my oath,
guaran—TEED not to break.
Now let’s wind ‘er up
for a rusty Swan Lake.”
Cain’t let that go
I said to myself,
I fancied it a-dancin’
on my parlour shelf.

A fade rose fan,
tarnished silver tray,
both given to Daisy
on her weddin’ day.

Mechanical monkey,
who stepped out a jig,
an old piece of brass
in the shape of a pig.

Jist as I thought there
weren't nothin’ left to excite,
Al held up a soup bowl,
nearly caused a fistfight.

Tobaccy Joe and Aunt Lettie
would not compromise.
An unusual soup bowl
was just a heck of a prize !

Not only would it hold
Aunt Lettie’s Squirrel Soup,
one side pictured Lulu,
the other, Betty Boop.

Lettie bid heavy
‘til Joe’s bids went south.
Lettie took the bowl,
Tobaccy swore, then spit
snuff out his mouth.

Well, the evenin’ soon ended
and I thought it right nice
that I’d got me so much
for sech a low price.

Auctioneer Al,
he sweeps up the floor,
gathers his money and
walks out the door.

Walk down the mountain,
ponder what I’d done,
felt kinda foolish,
but I’d had me some fun.

Got to thinkin’ bout Miss Daisy,
brung a tear to my eye.
I’d done bought her fond memories
from the years gone by.