A Questionable Entry

We turned him loose
On “27” at 1:15
He cast to front
Was soon unseen

But Lordy Me
Our bracemate’s scout
Sung out far right
And it was he on point at 10

I got there quick
His eyes was big
As head lights on
A forty Ford

He quivered
No he shook
But not as much as I
For I could feel how tight

Them birds was bunched
Before his nose
In that wiregrass
And turkey oaks

So I slid off
Said whoa
Commenced to stomp
Then he commenced to flag 

So I tapped him on the head
He shot ahead
But he had no clue
Which way them birds had run (nor did I)

So I called him in
And watered him
Then threw him in
A tub to cool him and kill some time

My scout released him
He shot off
In search of birds
Or so I hoped 

He made the next corner
Jumped in the tub
You showed some brains there,
I thought ‘cause it were hot 

He climbed out
As I arrived
Blew my whistle
Rode on to show him the course 

He took the hint
But in a bit
Got in the course path
Out of briers

It was a long ride
To the next corner
By the pit whence phosphate
Once ‘twas dug and hauled 

There he stood
I raised my cap
The judges came
To certify my second unproductive point

My forty minutes
Had expired
We’d not be called back
That was for sure

The only questions
As we left “27”
Would I leave him on the truck
Or road him to the kennel 

And would his owner pay
His entry fee at the Continental
Or instruct me
To send him home or somewhere else