FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection
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A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
73
Leon Flick
Fiddles
There's something almost mystical, in them magic fiddle tunes. Like swans, a flyin' over head, and callin' to the moon. Like a bull elk, calls his challenge, or a coyote, changes keys.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
75
Leon Flick
Hats
I wonder, if your ole hat could talk what stories might unfold? You know, the ones that it has seen, bt you have never told. Of all the places in it's life, that it has come to rest. I wonder, if your ole hat could talk, what story'd be its best?
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
76
Leon Flick
More On Hats
I was just a wee bit of a lad, of maybe seven years. And the story that I'm tellin' to my eyes, will still bring tears. I was out to help my papa. Probably mostly in the way. And things weren't going smoothly. Dad was having a "bad day." We had taken the little truck, and stuffed it full of cows.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
78
Leon Flick
Silver Sea of Sage
Like a shining shrine, the sun comes up, o'er that silver sea of sage. The rays enhance the newness of the dawn. The vastness of the land rolls out. A never ending game. A game in which man plays a simple pawn.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
82
Leon Flick
Mongo
It's early in November, and the calves are set to go. And something rarely seen by man-- The trucks--not one "no show." The steers are weighin' deep in "five." The heifers, slightly lighter. And the price I got was out of sight. Things ain't looked much brighter.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
84
Leon Flick
Percy's Pair
Percy's pair came in the ring, and they're about to die. The cow's got nearly forty irons, and there's tired in her eye. Hip bones lilke spread buzzard wings and draggin' one hind pin. She's no stranger to this place. It's sale day--again.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
86
Leon Flick
For Hart Mountain
Let's make Her all the way She was, before the White man came. Let's save Her and protect Her, 'fore She knows more White Man's shame. Let's fence around Her boundaries. "Hell, She's not going anywhere." Let's take away all signs of man.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
89
Leon Flick
Acres Or Achers
"How many acres do you have?" the pilgrim asked of me. "I have a right good many, thought there's some that you can't see. There's some that's buried deep inside, and though you can't define 'em, there's others on the surface, if you look, well, you can find 'em."
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
91
Leon Flick
Go See
With all that is not known, lies a certain mystery. The kind you can't be sure of. The kind that you can't see. Some things you take for granted, but it's only in your mind.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
92
Leon Flick
The Message
It's a message sent from far away, that only some can hear that comes a callin' on a certain day. It might be ridin' on the wind, or on a leaf that falls, that starts a great migration on its way. It can trumpet from a new-born sprig, that's finally broke the ground. Echo off a steamy hillside in the spring. Who knows just where it's hidin', or when it makes it's call. 'Cuz most of us no longer hear the thing.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
97
Leon Flick
Circle
Thank you for the little things, you give to us each day. The newness of each rising sun, the meadows full of hay. A spring that's full of baby calves, a wife that's close beside you.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
100
Leon Flick
At Last It's Spring
Can you hear it on that reckless wind? Can you smell it, as it thaws? Can you touch it, as the frost goes out? When the wind, puts up it's claws? Can you taste it in a morning sigh? Can you hear that blue bird sing? Can you feel the new, in your very heart? At last, I think it's spring.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
111
Leon Flick
Two New Angels
Two new angels were born today, as hand in hand they travel away. To a place in which unfolds and flowers. For HE has called with HIS omnipotent powers. And only in faith, can we see HIS way, as hand in hand, they travel away.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
115
Leon Flick
My Bedroll
This ole bedroll's my companion, though I've cussed it when it's damp. I sure am glad to see it on a cold night back in camp. Sometimes it's been my suitcase for to store my extra wares. I sleep the best with stars above, where I don't have a care.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
117
Leon Flick
Wisdom Knots
I'm tucked down in my blankets, and I'm burrowed deep tonight, for the storm that's been a brewin' has arrived. But my belly's full of warm food, and my teepee keeps me dry. Men caught on nights like this, without, have died. And I get to thinkin' backwards to the places that we've seen. My bedroll and my teepee are old friends. We've stood our ground together through heat and cold and snow Just takin' on what Mother Nature sends.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F
120
Leon Flick
Close
Bedded deep in the ground in that rodeo dirt, lay a boy with no air wearin' just half a shirt. His lights were half off. His world's spinnin' round. He'd been real content to just lay on the ground.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
121
Leon Flick
A Million Kinds Of Cowboys
There's a million kinds of cowboys, and these are just a few. From the farmer in his "bibbers," to the wild-ragged buckaroo. There's them that pack two ropes apiece, in the gun racks of their Ford. There's them that pack one rope for years, 'cuz it's all they can afford.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
123
Leon Flick
Little Towns in Easter OR.
Now Paisley has its "Skeeter Fest," and Wallowa has its lake. There's lots of little bitty towns on the east side of this state. Diamond has its craters, Meachem has the Blues, Minam has a little grade, and Union's paid its dues.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
125
Leon Flick
For Lea
Lea, oh Lea. At last your pain's set free. You filled our hearts while here on earth, with loving memory. And though we can not see you now, you always will be near. For what you gave, amongst us, was love and grace and cheer.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
127
Leon Flick
Sweet and Sour Bighorn Stew
This stew starts in an envelope the mail man has brought. It says that you have drawn the tag that every hunter's sought. So you hurry down and buy that tag before they change their mind. 'Cuz you know this stew is special. It's so sweet, onr of a kind.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
132
Leon Flick
Coyote Singin' Solo
The coyotes are a singin'. And now every dog in town, and every dog on every ranch, for twenty miles around is gonna sit and answer them. They do it every night. I'm tired, and I want some rest. It's gonna be a fight. With eyes as big as saucers, that keep starin' at the ceilin'.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
135
Leon Flick
The Pulling Contest
This ole team's the heart of me. Their hearts are proud and full. They work as one together. No strangers to hard pulls. Each new weight's a challenge. Each new pull's a test.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
137
Leon Flick
Thy Heifer
Once upon a midnight weary, heifers calvin', weather's dreary. I stopped to ponder where I was. My mind is tired and in a fuzz. I haven't slept for three straight days. I stumble 'round, my mind a daze. When all at once what should appear, but two small eyes, a nose, and ears.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
139
Leon Flick
The Cowboy
He was made in the West where a man's put to test by the horses and tracks that he's made. And his love for the land, is a thing that is grand. Life's dues have been hard, but they're paid. The lessons he's learned and the pride that he's earned, and the knowledge that speaks in his eye comes from hours in the saddle, while he's trotted astraddle, 'tween the land and the good Lord's blue sky.
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
142
Leon Flick
A Little Buckaroo Meets Santa
He took him to the city, when he was only four. To do some Christmas shoppin', in that big department store. And the sights, they filled his very eyes, and the smells, they filled his nose. And everything a goin' on, kept him right up on his toes.