Bryce Angell is a cowboy poet. Angell was raised on a farm/ranch in the St. Anthony, Idaho area with approximately 75 head of horses. Horses remain an important part of Angell’s life.

Angell shares his poetry with Cache Valley Daily every Friday.

It was time to clean the chimney, brush the soot and creosote. But I’d have to
climb the ladder. If I fell, that’s all she wrote.

My neighbor’s son cleaned chimneys, paid him cash to clean the pipe. But he
never cleaned yet took the cash. The doggone guttersnipe.

I’d bought a ladder, a year ago, to get me on the roof. But hadn’t used it one
dang time ‘cuz falling ain’t fool-proof.

So, I asked my wife to help me. I could use an extra hand. She said she’d keep an
eye out for a softer place to land.

That’s what I like about a wife. They’re always upbeat bound. She’d be seeking
out my welfare while I’m falling to the ground.

Well, we wrestled with the ladder. It was sixteen feet in length. And when we
tried to stretch it out ‘’twas more than both our strengths.

When we tipped the ladder up, it wasn’t bad luck just plain fate. It fell and
smashed the brake lights, dented in the truck’s tailgate.

We finally placed the ladder. It was stretched out nice and tall. Then it slipped
and knocked the Wi Fi dish right off the cabin wall.

I swear we looked like stooges, only two instead of three. Yet, the roof was
calling out my name. I wished it wasn’t me.

We stretched the ladder once again. This time it stayed in place. Now, I had to
climb the ladder. Time to offer pleads of grace.

So, this time I climbed with confidence. I felt like Errol Flynn. Then I looked down
at my wife and she was looking mighty grim.

I must admit her panicked look had shook my certitude. I froze and hugged the
ladder prob’ly looked the scaredest dude.

My wife was looking at me. I was scared plumb half to death. But I wanted to
impress her, so I took a giant breath.

So, then I climbed the ladder, made it to the chimney top. I cleaned the chimney,
climbed on down before my brain yelled, “Stop!”

I knew there was a better way to climb up on the roof. I didn’t need convincing
‘cuz today was living proof.

I added up the costs that I would have to pay in dough. So next time I’ll call a
chimney sweep, who’ll clean the pipe then go.







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