COWBOYS

I’m not much of a cowboy, but we are going on a Pioneer Trek and the people in charge want us to participate in a talent show.  Singing used to be my go-to talent but the years have forced me to recognize I’m not that good anymore. 

Since we are honoring pioneers on this trip and pioneers were the ones who raised up most of the cowboys, I figured a Cowboy Poem might be fun. 

First I looked up a few to get an idea what they were like and then I practiced.  Here is one I particularly liked from a man named Jim Fish.

Heritage

The ranch on which I hang my hat, though short on most the frills,

Is thirteen sections, give or take, of rugged trails an’ hills.

We call it ‘home’, our little world, our very own frontier,

Amongst the cattle, sheep an' goats; the varmints, hogs an' deer.

Today I watched the breakin' dawn an' whiffed the mornin' air,

A time I often set aside for things like thought an' prayer.

A Mockin'bird an' Mornin' Dove, an' other birds at play,

Were there to sing an' set the mood to start another day.

This mornin' saw the strangest thing, like time itself had merged,

An' all the souls who once were here, appeared an' then converged.

In swirlin' clouds of mist an' fog, right off the bluffs they rolled,

Till all had gathered in the glen, the modern an' the old.

The Indians, conquistadors, an' other ancient men,

The soldiers from this country's wars, an' cowboys from back when…

They all had come from yesterday to help me understand

Our link with those who came before, to heritage an' land.

A crazy notion, so I thought, that they could just appear,

But as the morning went along the reason got real clear.

They rode along with me that day to show me things I’ve missed,

The things I’ve seen a thousand times an’ some I’d just dismissed.

Those wagon roads of long ago, still evident today,

Are carved in rock an' rutted earth, not apt to wash away.

They linked the missions, forts an' towns those many years gone by;

An' left their mark for all to see, as modern times grew nigh.

The artifacts an' weathered ruins attest to yesterdays,

When others came an' lived their lives in very different ways.

We've seen their skill in arrowheads they honed from fired stone,

An' craftsmanship in beads an' tools they fashioned out of bone.

At ever turn and trail we took was something to remind,

The Maker must have had a plan laid out for humankind.

The Earth He made’s been feedin' us a half-a-million years,

An' used it's wonder, force an' change to challenge pioneers.

I do not know if they'll return or if they’ll feel the need,

But I’m prepared to ride the trail, where ever it may lead.

We all are spirits ridin’ time with bodies of the Earth,

Whose time has come to take the reins an’ offer up our worth.

The land has been the legacy we cultivate an’ reap,

The life has been the heritage our father’s fought to keep,

An’ we are bound throughout our time with those who came before,

To put our hearts and souls to it, and make it something more.

So, with that as my template, I embarked on another adventure.  Don’t get your hopes up and please remember that this is my first ride in this rodeo.

Imagine me in a big cowboy hat wearing jeans, boots, and a big-buckle belt.  Oh, and a great big mustache on my face.  That’s how I would look if I was a real Cowboy.  But I’m not so you just have to imagine.

Anyways, here goes.

One of my favorite cowboys.  

DUST IN MY EYE

By Mike Whitmer

Poppa says we’re leavin’

‘Cause them folks don’t like us much

Time to get our clothes and food

And load up Momma’s hutch

She left when I was still a boy

Needin’ a momma’s hand

I guess she couldn’t take no mor’

So we laid her in our land

I looked in Poppa’s eyes today

Saw a big tear start to slide

He paused and said real sad to me

Got a little dust in my eye

The trail is hard, the nights are cold

Awful weak most ever’ day

But Me and Poppa and Lil’ Tim

We always find a way

What’s out there, on the other side

Them mountains we must cross?

Will we make it all together

Or bury ‘nother loss

It don’t seem fair to have to go

Away from all we love

Our lives were good and simple

We were bless’d by God above

Them folks back there they hate us so

And I can’t fathom why

They took my Momma ‘way from me

An’ left dust in Poppa’s eye

Tol’ Poppa when I become a man

I’m gonna take a ride

And find that lot what drove us out

And skin a lil’ hide

His sad face looked real hard at me

He gave a great big sigh

He spoke more soft and firm this time

My boy, please let it lie

I wasn’t sure what all to think

His words tore my insides

He wiped away some water and said

Got a little dust in my eye

We marched along for days and days

Through prairie, wind, and sand

Til’ one day from a mountaintop

We saw our Promised Land

It didn’t look like all that much

‘cept it was safe and free

I looked at Poppa and lil’ Tim

And they looked back at me

We’re gonna do our best out here

We’re gonna make our way

We’re gonna live like Momma would

To be with her one day

We found our place we have our home

We’ll live here til’ we die

Then Poppa said ‘my boy what’s wrong’

Nuttin’, just a little dust in my eye.