If you think you\'re tough you ain\'t seen enough I\'ll tell you about a man
One that didn\'t complain about pain from when it all began
I met him years ago, hair white as snow, but with only one leg.
As we talked, to the obvious he balked and the question he did beg
But after a few beers, disappeared all fears and the story started
Years ago, fire wood was running low so with my ax I parted
Had cleared the ground all around so took the high trail
I\'d cut down a tree that would give me wood through winter without fail
After a while, maybe a mile, found a large dead oak
Started to chop and didn\'t stop until heard it cracked and broke
Stepping out of the way, a rock came into play, trunk pinning leg to stone
Fight as I might caught in a bite, tons pushing down on my leg bone
As much as I did yell, no one to tell, no one to hear my call
There I lay most all day, sandwiched leg between tree and rock wall
Although It was getting late, thought I\'d wait, then came the ants
At the fall of night, felt the first bite, crawling in my shirt and pants
Ruthless and mean, ants will pick you clean, impossible to relax
Without other hope, I started to grope till my hand found my ax
Knowing I\'d pass out with the first clout, breathed deep, took off my belt
Wrapped it round my leg, tightened it with a branch peg, pressure felt
Raised the ax high, closed my eye, swung with all my strength
With first whack all went black, came around at length
Thudding pain in my brain, blood everywhere but leg still intact
Took another swing, felt the sting with the force of the impact
With leg severed I endeavored to pull my body free
With ax as a crutch couldn\'t do much, could only stand by degree
In the gloam I hobbled home had to stop the bleeding
Started a fire, fanned the flames higher, red hot cast iron proceeding
Burnt the stump till just a charred lump, fell on my bed
With a moan broke away the protruding bone, thinking I\'d soon be dead
With no sleep, eyes too dry to weep a constant throbbing pain
My fever broke as I awoke and vowed to never do that again