FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Prairie Wife

FC 11 E-20

121

Elizabeth Ebert

Kissing

If you're into osculation With ever slobbering stranger Plus friends and relatives and pets You are probably in no danger But for you this one exception (If you try it you're a sucker).

Prairie Wife

FC 11 E-20

123

Elizabeth Ebert

An Old Ranch Wife Reads Genesis 2:18

Where feminists rage rampant In these days of somen's lib It's not politically correct To come from Adam's rib. For anything that's masculine Somehow's the enemy When a woman's more tahn equal And even God's a "she".

Prairie Wife

FC 11 E-20

125

Elizabeth Ebert

A Valentine's Day Celebration

I dreamed I left my husband home, (Though I know that's out of line), While I went out to dinner With a robot valentine. He weren't no cowboy robot And I'm sure his class was "upper" For note, we went to "dinner" And not to rancher's "supper".

Prairie Wife

FC 11 E-20

127

Elizabeth Ebert

The Kite

The north wind blew today and I Returned to childhood on its lusty roar. With breakfast dishes standing still unwashed And beds unmade, we sat upon the floor Our three heads bent intent upon our work Our pig-tailed daughter's, our small son's, and mine.

Prairie Wife

FC 11 E-20

128

Elizabeth Ebert

We Spent An Angry Hour

We spent an angry hour today It was a foolish fight That changed to stubborn silence, I knew that I was right And he, of course, was just as sure His was the only way. And so between the two of us We wasted half a day.

Prairie Wife

FC 11 E-20

129

Elizabeth Ebert

When I Leave This Life

When I leave this life as we all must do And this prairie I've loved thought the long, long years There's a single boon that I ask of you, Don't waste one precious day in tears. Have a funeral if you feel you must With the usual rituals for the dead, A plain pine box, not satin-lined, But with blanket, preferably in red.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

14

Rolf M. Flake

Cloud Watchers

You can tell an Arizona cowman, But you sure can't tell him much. That's a joke that people tell And we'll just let it go as such. But a sure-fire way to tell him From other people 'round about Is to notice if he watches the clouds-- Fer those who don't are out.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

18

Rolf M. Flake

Northern Arizona Spring

In Northern Arizona, beginning In the Spring The wind begins to blowin' and It's a terrible thing. The sand begins to shiftin' And the trees begin to blow-- And the "real estate's" a movin' At about ninety miles an hour.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

20

Rolf M. Flake

Northern Arizona Summer

Northern Arizona summer, after "Weathering" through the spring Can be a delightful season, Depending on two things. One thing is RAIN, And the other is too-- One's if you don't have it, And the other's if you do.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

23

Rolf M. Flake

Northern Arizona--Fall

After a good wet summer on the Northern Arizona range, The fall's about the nicest season Your imagination can arrange. Along about September as the nights Begin to cool You know that fall is acomin' on, There's no exception to the rule.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

25

Rolf M. Flake

Northern Arizona Winter

The calves are shipped, The cows are, too, On this Northern Arizona range And the winter's in full view. A skift of snow at Thanksgiving time Along with a little ice Give hints of what there is to come-- It may not be too nice.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

28

Rolf M. Flake

Ranch Neighbors

Good neighbors are an asset That any ranch can claim. You can't list them on your statement, But they're an asset just the same. Now a neighbor may live a mile away, Then again, he may live ten, And you sure don't see him every day, But you know he's there, a friend.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

30

Rolf M. Flake

Ranch Labor Problems, SOLVED

I heard of a rancher a few years back Who had a very small ranch, not a large one-- And yet he had hired a top notch man, who held the position of FOREMAN. The banker came out to inspect his small spread. In fact he was considering a loan-- But he couldn't see how the rancher could afford to have such a top man on the 'roll.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

31

Rolf M. Flake

The Acid Test

There are two kinds of cowboys As you and I both know-- One is the "drugstore" variety the other's the "real McCoy." Sometimes it's hard to tell 'em apart Just by the way they dress. But a guaranteed way to tell 'em Is to give them this little test.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

32

Rolf M. Flake

How Do You Spell "Relief?"

Well, it sprinkled a little bit yesterday On the twenty-third of June-- It gives us hope for summer rains, And we hope they will come soon. The rainy season's due to start Somewhere around July the Fourth-- We depend on it for our living On our little ranch up north.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

34

Rolf M. Flake

No Buck, No Luck

I heard about this "sheepman" Who turned his ranch to his sons When he retired, and took a little trip-- Decided he'd just have a little fun. The boys were anxious as could be to please-- They knew they could handle the sheep. After all, they'd been raised right there on the ranch-- The could almost do it in their sleep.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

35

Rolf M. Flake

Upward Bound

"This year was sure tough,"... I heard this old rancher say, "What with the drought and poor prices, My interest I can't pay. The danged Forest is tryin' My permit now to cut... My ol' cows are dyin' I'm sure in a rut."

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

36

Rolf M. Flake

One More Rain

All my life I've heard the refrain-- "We'd sure be all right with just ONE MORE RAIN." Most ol' cowmen have it tattooed on their brain-- "Things 'd be rosy with just ONE MORE RAIN."

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

38

Rolf M. Flake

No Argument

"Fat is a pretty color," My dad used to always say When talking about his herd of cows-- And I know he felt that way. Fat don't look so good on people-- At least so I've heard it said.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

39

Rolf M. Flake

Ranch Sights, Sounds And Smells

SIGHTS: Sunrises and sunsets Early morning after a night rain Early morning after a new snow Water runnin' in the draws New calves buckin' and playin'.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

40

Rolf M. Flake

Mormon Buckskin

Withouth "Mormon Buckskin" we have our doubts That the West would hold together-- But it holds the country quite secure, And we're not speakin' now of "leather." Now leather played its part, I'm sure In the winnin' of the West.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

43

Rolf M. Flake

Shippin' Cattle In The Fall

Fond memories keep comin' back As the old days I recall-- Fifty years ago when I was a kid An' shippin' cattle in the fall. Oh we still ship cattle-- in the fall But it's different now somehow.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

47

Rolf M. Flake

When The Work's All Done This Fall

Well, I know what it's like on an old cow ranch Where you really "hit the ball" From "kin 'til kaint"--but it's gonna slow down When the "work's all done this fall." Well I've heard that line since I was a kid And we wanted to do anything at all.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

48

Rolf M. Flake

Corriente

You ask me, "What's a CORRIENTE?" Such a strange, different sounding name--Well, let me tell you about them-- They deserve their share of fame! The "Corriente" is a special cattle breed That comes from Mexico-- They've brought 'em into our country for years.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

52

Rolf M. Flake

Let Your Ears Hang Low...

Our choice in cattle is changin', As we go from year to year. We still have them whiteface cows, But their calves now show some "ear." 'Cause their daddy is a so-called "exotic"-- Beefmaster, Brangus, Barzona. They seem to adapt well to our conditions On these tough ranges in Arizona.