Uncle Levi's Wooden Leg

Uncle Levi’s Wooden Leg
Uncle Levi rode the crowded troop train back from the Great War
Trying with all his heart to find the man he’d been before
Back to the Arkansas farm town that he’d left so far behind
In the shadow of Crowley’s Ridge down in the Shortleaf Pine
He’d lost his leg and a flag colored piece of his soul
It happened in a deadly flash out on a late night patrol
And he was so glad to be home but hell his nerves were shot
And his mind and his pants leg were both tied in a knot
He knew that a half of a man couldn’t do much work
He’d have rather of died in the mud in France than have folks think he’d shirk
So Uncle Levi’s did the best he could but his life was adrift
Until the whole damned town showed up one day with a welcome home gift
They’d thought of the only thing that might make things alright
And help Levi get his mind unscrambled and off of the bloody fight
And he finally could throw those ragged army crutches in the ditch
It was a sure enough custom made wooden leg and Levi said, ‘I’ll be a son-of-a-****’
Uncle Levi’s wooden leg
Wasn’t a rough hewn pirate’s peg
It was hand carved from a cherry burl Best damn wooden leg in the world
His cousin Lynn had made the strap and brace
And his brother Cal had screwed the wood in place
And Ben the carpenter carved it down to suit
The cut of his trousers and the fit of Uncle Levi’s boot
They all shook his hand for what he’d done in the war
There were so many’d come out to see him, they couldn’t all fit through the door
So he walked and he smiled and he worked up until his dying day