SMOKEHOUSE DEALS
Got a sack of jerky and a handful of shells,
Trade for a blanket where the cold wind dwells.
Man at the fire’s got a squint in his eye,
Trust is a gamble when the stakes run high.
A pint of corn liquor for a blade that’s true,
A spool of thread for a boot that’s new.
We shake on the deal, but my hand don’t rest,
A bargain’s a blade held close to the chest.
Smokehouse deals, where the shadows trade,
Every word’s a debt that’s gotta be paid.
Take what you need, but you give in kind,
A man’s only rich what his heart don’t mind.
The smoke curls thick where the traders meet,
Each word’s a risk in the fire’s heat.
A rusted canteen for a sack of grain,
Every trade’s a step through the hunger’s pain.
Some offer stories, some offer lies,
Some trade their honor for a glint in their eyes.
I weigh each offer on a scale of dust,
In a world gone broke, it’s the heart you trust.
Smokehouse deals, in the fire’s red glow,
You give what you got, or you reap what you sow.
One trade, one nod, one chance to survive,
You barter your heart just to stay alive.
Some trade for love, some trade for gold,
Me, I trade to keep from growin’ old.
The smoke don’t care for the deals we make,
But I barter my soul for survival’s sake.
Smokehouse deals, in the fire’s red glow,
You give what you got, or you reap what you sow.
One trade, one nod, one chance to survive,
You barter your heart just to stay alive.
Barter your heart… just to stay alive.