FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

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Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Horse Sense

A friend of mine up there under the Rim, Told me of this experience that happene to him. His family'd owned this old ranch for some time-- It'd passed from father to son down the line. He told me how when his dad was a young man, He'd roped him a bear right there on the ranch.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Namin' the Ponies

The horses I remember, From days long ago 'til now Are listed here in a sort of rhyme Although I'm not sure just how. Ol' Spot she was a little mare A good kid's horse for sure. And Scooper taught many a kid to ride Before the tender age of four.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

The Demise Of the "T I Z"

There's a ranch that's known as the T I Z Up Apache County way-- The name's derived from the iron that's used, It's been used there for many a day There's a T on the hip, and an I on the ribs, And a Z on the shoulder, you see.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Uptown-Cowtown

Well, some cow ranches these days have come right uptown, No more are the out in the sticks. We have developers to thank for this change of pace-- No more-are we just country hicks. We've got an old ranch that they "developed" for sure-- Bladed roads on each quarter mile.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Double Trouble

Two old cowmen were talkin' once About how they were both in trouble. Cattle prices were "on the rocks," And interest rates had near doubled. The banker had ceased to be a friend, The ranch was in a drought.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Ranch Values

My ranch as seen by: MY BANKER: "Overvalued--at least by twice-- Cut the value on your statement in two. That makes your loan in excess of 100 percent And foreclosure is darned sure in view!"

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Ranchers Are True Environmentalists

Essay.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Feast or Famine

The desert is a tough task-mistress. She can be fickle, unpredictable and mean-- Then turn around almost overnight And treat you like a king. You're on state land-- can't lock your gates Have to let the "public" in With four-wheel drives, dirt bikes and parties And they think that it's no sin.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Cow Buyers

Cow buyers are a different bunch-- A different breed of cat. They're "cautious speculators" to say the least I'm sure we'll all vouch for that. When the market's up they're nder every bush When it's down they're hard to find-- But if the market's steady, they're steady too-- At least that gives us some peace of mind.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Wild West in Georgia or Just Me and Earl

Some years ago down in Georgia I was "cowboyin" with ol' Earl West. We'd both moved down there from Arizona And was a doin' what we liked the best. We was workin' for the "Church" in that far off land-- This kind of church work was what we both knew. 'Cause the Church owned this ranch and we had been asked To help care for the cattle-- not a few.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Ride 'Em Cowboy

There ain't no horse that cannot be rode-- There ain't no cowboy that cannot be throwed. I don't care what they say in the Wild West story-- We're just callin' it the way we see it, by glory. Any cowboy that sez he's never been throwed Just mark it down, it's 'cuz he ain't never rode.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Mean Mama

We were brandin' th' calves In the ol' Rhoton corral Out o' the ol' Blue Rooster pasture An' it's hotter than h--. We'd ketched us a big one An' wuz a tailin' 'im down, When outa' th' herd comes 'is mama, A big, black Brangus cow.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Manuel

Now, Manuel, he's a "wetback" From down chihuahua way. He came by the ranch a few years back And asked if he could stay. We told him that we'd try him And see if he'd work out-- We might have work for a week or so If that would help him out.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

That Dog

I arrived at the round-up a little bit late-- I rode over to help my neighbor. He'd rode for me a couple weeks back And I was there to return the favor. That's what the rancher calls "tradin' work"-- As each one helps out the other.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Weather Or No?

"Do you think it'll rain?" I asked my friend A weather-beaten old cowman. "I'm no newcomer, so I don't dare guess," He said with just the hint of a grin. 'Cuz a fool or a stranger's the only ones that'll try To predict the weather in this state-- And I don't know which the TV man is, And anyways he's not on 'til too late.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Thanks For the Rain

Som city folks--they cuss the rain It messes up their weekend. But us ranch raised folks are different 'Cause on rain our life depends. I hear the news man gripe and groan When rain is in the forecast.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Black is Beautiful

I was on a big ranch down in Florida once, Just a workin' there fer my pay-- And when you have fifty thousand head You work cattle somewhere every day. Most of the cowboys there was just like me-- They all hailed out from the West-- Lured down there to the Southern swamps By the kind of work that they liked the best.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Dirty Levi's

I was workin' cattle one fine day When the boss come drivin' by-- He waved and kept on goin'-- I thought he'd passed on by. But then he stopped, kicked it in reverse And backed up to the herd. "Give yer horse to Joe--come go with me," To me the boss's word.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

Rolf M. Flake

Cowboy Construction Co., Inc.

I guess I'm not much of a construction man-- I've never built a house. I worked as a plumber's helper once-- I'd lots rather be punchin' cows. Even so, I do have a construction "trade" Though to some it might not make sense-- It's ag-related, you can bet on that-- I'm talkin' about buildin' FENCE.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

102

Rolf M. Flake

Hay-- Which Way Are You Headed?

Ol' Shorty was the foreman On a hay ranch north of here-- Puttin' up hay for winter When the weather's not so clear. The time was several years ago When they still put up "loose" hay-- Before the time of "pull-type" balers And the equipment of today.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

103

Rolf M. Flake

Good Weather

I'm fed up to here with TV weathermen Who describe rainy weather as bad, Like they had no idea what'd happen to us If rainy weather we never had. They just don't know how we depend on the rain When cattle or farmin's our "living"

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

108

Rolf M. Flake

The Best Things in Life--COST MONEY!

"Be a roper--not a doper"--It's dang sure good advice, Although both are sure addictive Ropin' may be the lesser vice. But you can sure get hooked on ropin' Just like you can on dope--But with ropin' the outlook's better-- There may still be some hope.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

110

Rolf M Flake

Team Ropers

They're in the "box," the barrier's pulled-- Their ropes are all at the ready, Their horses are alert, the steer's headed straight And the cowboys try to stay steady. The chute gate pops--out comes the steer--The barrier string snaps open-- And out they come, both ropes a swingin'

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

113

Rolf M. Flake

Ten Days In December

The cowboys are gatherin' in "Vegas" today Some came to work and others to play. Some came by plane and others by car They've all come together for the big NFR. There's bull riders, bronc riders, team ropers too With calf ropers, steer wrestlers, barrel racers in view.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

116

Rolf M. Flake

Endurance Contest

There's an event of some great renown-- Takes place in late July. It's a little bit hard to describe it-- but I'll sure give it a try. It's held at Flake Family Reunion time Up here in old Snowflake town. The family's been here for over a hundred years, And each year the all gather 'round.