FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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172

Rolf M. Flake

Thick or Thin Or Too thick to Drink

Now, I've drunk water from mountain streams, And from springs so sweet and pure. But I've drunk out of a "cow track" too-- I'ts pretty rank you can be sure. And I've drunk it out of deep wells, too With mineral content high.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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173

Rolf M. Flake

Snow Bird

I met a man the other day Who'd moved from Idaho to Arizon'a sunny clime To "thaw out" a bit you know. I asked how he decided Just where he was gonna live. I know you won't believe it-- Here's the answer that he give.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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174

Rolf M. Flake

Here Kitty, Kitty

My family and I went campin' once-- Up in the mountains with friends. It's simple how this story started-- You'll be surprised at how it ends. The friends all left after a couple days-- We decided to spend one more night In the cool, clean air of the mountains, We just knew it would turn out all right.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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177

Rolf M. Flake

Worry Wart

"Quit worryin' 'bout the motor now-- Start worryin' 'bout the brakes 'Cuz we've reached the summit and started down A five mile hill for Heaven sakes." We didn't think we'd make it up-- The motor sure was missin', An' smokin' bad from burnin' oil, And knockin' on one piston.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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178

Rolf M. Flake

Politiccs

The story is told, and I'm sure that it's true About this old mama cow and her baby-- A "little bull" calf he was for sure-- She was proud, and I don't mean maybe. 'Cause he was the spittin' imagie of his dad The best "papered" bull in the herd. But the "steering committee" had to be reckoned with-- How she shuddered when she thought of that word.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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180

Rolf M. Flake

Lion Hunters

Out here in old Arizona, There's a different "breed of cat" He's known as a "Lion Hunter"-- And he sure knows where he's at. He's sure got his priorities straight And "Numero Uno" on the list Is to catch a lion whenever he can-- In this he does persist.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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182

Rolf M. Flake

Temporary Reincarnation

Two ol' cowboys died one day-- Ended up at the Pearly Gate And St. Peter got out his Records To see what was their fate. "You're early boys," sez he to them-- "You were scheduled in all right-- But not 'til a week from Friday If my books are figgered right."

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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185

Rolf M. Flake

The Brew

I had concocted this brew a soft drink, it's true From ingredients that I had on hand. It turned out quite good like i hoped that it would And I hoped to have it commercially canned. It was amber in color, almost yellow, but duller. It looked a lot like that drink, Mountain Dew. It was crystal and clear, looked a little like beer If you can picture what I'm tellin' to you.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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186

Rolf M. Flake

Big Windy

"Does it blow this way, here every day?" The stranger asked my pard. "Why, no," he said "Sometimes it blows the other way-- But it always blows this hard." "This here's just a breeze," he says with a wheeze, "You shoulda been here last week-- It really got goin', I mean really blowin'-- It just wasn't no day for the meek.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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188

Rolf M. Flake

A Frog Strangler And A Gully Washer

An Arizona cowboy chanced to visit Once, back east. And while there it happened that He was invited to a feast. While visitin' with the "natives" As he waited for things to begin, He was the center of attraction And they began to question him.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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190

Rolf M. Flake

Bull Only

This "40 acre nester" That I head of one day Was serious when he bought his "ranch" He didn't just want to play. He wanted to be a cowman So he dressed to look the part-- He bought a horse, he bought a truck To give him a good head start.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

192

Rolf M. Flake

I'll Die With My "Bird Skins" On

These "bird skin" boots are sure a treat-- They fit like gloves upon yer feet. So smooth and soft, this ostrich hide-- Just try a pair if you think I've lied. Well, I tried to wear that "snake skin" style-- A talkin' to myself the whole darn while... Ever time I took a step they'd give me a start-- Caint wear 'em boys--too hard on my heart.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

194

Rolf M. Flake

I Dang Near Died!!

About th' ol' Halfway Ranch, I'll tell you a tale That near shortened my life a few years. Always leary of snakes 'round the ol' barns and corrals-- I've got no love fer snakes, only fears. 'Cuz I've always maintained it's the very same dead If ya die 'cuz yer bit, or yer skeered. If your heart up and quits, I'm tellin' ya shore Your deader than dead, I'm afeered.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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196

Rolf M. Flake

Jail Dog

My ol' black dog named "Biscsuit"-- Ranch dog--now lives in town. Mostly Border Collie, some Australian-- A pedigree that sez he savvies "cow." Born on a ranch in Gila County-- Where a ranch dog earns his pay-- Comes from a long line of honest cow dogs, Lots of work and not much play.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

198

Rolf M. Flake

Mountain Swap Meet

Now, listen up folks, I'll tell you a tale From northern Arizona and the town of Pinedale. Now Pinedale folks live out on the end of the trail-- So far out in the sticks they seldom get mail. Here lives the tall pine and the sturdy ol' oak. The crusty dry farmer and the weathered cowpoke And nearby Clay Springs was the home of ol' Joe Holyoak-- And I'm tellin' you what--ol' Joe enjoyed a joke.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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200

Rolf M. Flake

Navajo Telegraph

"Line of sight" communication Is something we all know-- From tower to tower, peak to peak Radio station to radio. The Indians had it perfected Back in the days gone by-- From peak to peak they'd send Their smoke signals on high.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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201

Rolf M. Flake

Upstaged

This ol' Texas cowboy cashed in his chips-- And his sould arrived at the Pearly Gate And ol' Saint Peter took it on himself To give him a tour of Heaven, first rate. He showed him everything Heaven had to offer-- The ol' cowboy was sure less then reverent.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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204

Rolf M. Flake

Arizona

ARIZONA--land of contrast You make us glad to be alive-- We've grown up with you Arizona-- This year you're seventy-five. I'm proud to be called a native Of this state in the great Southwest. My parents--they are natives, too-- Their parents thought this state best.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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208

Rolf M. Flake

Golly, What A Gully

I survived the Grand Canyon--but barely, It just dang near done me in. But now that I've been to the bottom and back I can look back on the experience and grin! Well, we started in very lighthearted-- Just six miles straight down to the River, Down the old Kaibab trail--it's a tuff one-- Three miles in and my knees began to quiver.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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212

Rolf M. Flake

Grand Canyon Revisited--1987

Back to the "Canyon" in September?-- You've gotta be kiddin', my friend-- After all, if you remember, it was last year in September There at the Canyon, I near met my "end." I evern wrote a poem about it-- Passed it out to all that I knew. Made a statement of fact--that I wouldn't be back-- Told in detail just what I'd been through!

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

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216

Rolf M. Flake

Four Days in July

I spent four very delightful days In the middle of July-- And when I recount it for you You won't be wonderin' why. Four days on tour, home town, Northern Arizona With the sons of the San Joaquin-- A cowboy trio from California Singin' Western Harmony supreme.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

218

Rolf M. Flake

Music To Our Ears

Most every large city has it's symphony band It's philharmonic orchestra or choir-- And folks get excited over marching bands too And rock bands really set 'em on fire. We all have radio in our cars And tape decks in stereo sound.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

219

Rolf M. Flake

Just A Trace

A lady from the east through Arizona Once did roam. She was fascinated with the cactus And so she took some home. Some friends of hers had done the same, They'd taken cactus, too. But as to how to care for them-- They didn't know what to do.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

220

Rolf M. Flake

Not A Tree In Sight

"I think that I shall never see..." (A REAL poet penned these lines) "A poem lovely as a tree..." (They make a lot more sense than mine). The CEDAR TREE is oft despised By "tree lovers" as a group-- Even called a Cedar bush by some Who do not care how low they stoop.

Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers

FC 11 F-16

222

Rolf M. Flake

Nature's Own

We was runnin' some steers on the ol' Halfway Ranch For an ol' boy for a part of the gain. The steers, they was his, the pasture was ours, So we was both takin' our chance on the rain. Well, he come to inspect 'em, check 'em out don't ya see, Says, "Now I'm not just here to find fault, But it shore seems to me that these steers 'd do more If you all would just put out some SALT."