FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

139

Jesse Smith

Cowboy

It seemed like ten below As he rode through the snow And stepped down at the holdin' trap gate. He was half froze From his head to his toes. He was hungry, he was tired, and it's late.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

143

Jesse Smith

High Siereras

Have you ever been up in the high country? Drunk from crystal-clear springs? Woek up in the mornin' To hear a songbird as he sings? Have you ever seen native trout Jump out of lakes so crystal clear, Or seen a flock of geese fly overhead, Seen the liquid flight of deer?

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

145

Jesse Smith

Rite of Passage

You've been out with the wagon, Spent your share of time in camp. You've never been nobody's hero, Never been some big world champ. In fact, you're just a cowboy Out in your part of the West. You make your livin' horseback, 'Cause that's what you like to do the best.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

153

Jesse Smith

A Hell of a Day

This wreck started out In a pasture by town, I seen this old Hereford Cow layin' down She was tryin' to calf, But the calf wouldn't come, So I just rode up and thought I'd help her some.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

162

Jesse Smith

Freeways and Cars

An old cowman sat on the porch, Watched the sun sink behind the hill, Buttoned up his jacket As the evening took a chill. He had a big chew of tobaccer And, a-whitlin' with his knife, He started into talkin' 'Bout this modern way of life.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

166

Jesse Smith

Cowboy's Prayer

O Lord, it's been a long time since I've had a talk with you, But somehow on this mountain top with the sky so clear and blue, I seem to feel the reverence of your presence all around, In the flowers that bloom, the breeze that blows, and the hawk that's heaven bound.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

168

Jesse Smith

The Three Wheeler

I've ridden lots of old spoiled horses, I've had my share of wrecks. I've had 'em buck me off, rear over backwards, And damn near break my neck. I took a lot of chances, Never had a lot of brains. I've had my share of breaks, Scrapes, bruises, cuts, and pains.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

174

Jesse Smith

New Suit of Clothes

There was this old cowboy, his name was Slim, And a cowboy born and bred. But he shore didn't have the kind of look That'd turn a lady's head. He had this real long skinny nose; Just hung off the end of his face. Why, without ever leavin' the startin' blocks He could've won a ten-yard race.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

181

Jesse Smith

Good Ole Beans

I got this invitation from a neighbor, 'Course my wife was invited, too. To come over to their little ranch For this backyard barbecue. They had steaks and chops and salads and rolls, And lots of real good things. But the thing that really caught my eye Was this great big pot of beans.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

185

Jesse Smith

The Old Timer

You could see he was a cowboy; You could see by the way he walked, By the way he rolled a twirly, By the way his hat was cocked. His face and hands were leather-tanned From hours in the sun From days of facin' cold and wind To make sure the work was done.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

188

Jesse Smith

The Holiday Blues

Old Cookie's ringin' that old cracked dinner bell. That old man as a cook's about the best. I guess I'd better get busy and wash If I want to eat with the rest. It's early but it's already startin' to freeze This mornin' was seven below. And the radio says that a storm's on the way, And there's no doubt we'll get snow.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

191

Jesse Smith

Message in the Wind

As you set and look from the ridge, To the valley of green down below, You reach up and pull down yer lid, As a cool wind starts in to blow. Yer old pony's eyes are a-lookin', His ears workin' forward and back. All of a sudden you feel his hide tighten up, And a little hump come into his back.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

193

Jesse Smith

Jumper Cables

Me and old Sunny was workin' cattle, We'd been goin' pretty hard. We stopped to have a smoke When a pickup pulled up in the yard. It was old Curly Bill the trader, He had a horse there in the back Of hisold beat-up horse trailer, And Curly sure was one to yack.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

199

Jesse Smith

The Bet

I dont' know why I did it, But I did it on a bet. Besides, the crew had talked me into it, And it's a day I won't soon forget. 'Cause old Charlie, he'd been tryin' to bet I couldn't ride a certain nag. 'Cause I'd had several beers too many And my tongue began to wag.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

203

Jesse Smith

All the Important Things

Me and my wife was workin' cattle at the Fountain Springs corrals. Was a July day and it was hot and dry. The dust'd make you choke, you couldn't even spit, And it felt like you had gravel in your eye. We'd drank all the water, the dogs ate our lunch. My wife was gettin' grouchy as could be. She said, "I need a drink of water and I'm not on a diet." 'Course that's not sayin' that she shouldn't be.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

206

Jesse Smith

Silence

Have you ever heard the silence When there's no one else around, When you're way out all by yourself, A long, long ways from town? When the birds all stop their singin' You know that dark is near. And all of a sudden, silence; It's the only thing you hear.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

208

Jesse Smith

Old Man and the Kid

I hadn't seen him now for quite some time And the age sure showed in his face. And that old hospital bed he was layin' in Shore seemed out of place. His old eyes weren't quite as shiny As I'd remembered them to be, And when I first walked into the room He just kind of stared through me.

Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage

FC 11 H-47

213

Jesse Smith

The Way It Was

I'd like to turn the hands of time back To days that's gone long by, When you could look across the valley And see the mountains touch the sky. See vast herds of tule elk, Antelope, wild horses, too. Each day from fall till spring was kissed By frosty morning dew.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

1

D.A. Stewart

Memories of Childhood

I've a chest in the closet of memory Where I have stored away Sweet thoughts of days of childhood To keep till my dying day Memories of innocent childhood, To treasure and keep always; To keep 'till this life of failures Shall finally pass away.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

2

D.A. Stewart

Pioneer

We're as free as the air on the mountain We are monarch of all we survey, We fight and we cuss, And we stir up a fuss With never a law in the way. Each Sunday is ours for our frolics, We pry up the deuce and raise sand; The sheriff's afraid When we start our parade To even be seen in the land.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

3

D.A. Stewart

Necessities

Consider my friends, for a moment, A few of the things that we use. For instance our food and our clothing, And last, but not least, come our shoes. Besides things of minor inportance To be purchased each day of the year. But what can a man use for money When the car he drives isn't clear?

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

4

D.A. Stweart

Beyond The Winter

Beyond the deadly winter's chill, When brown the trees upon the hill; The sun will shine, the birds will sing, When comes the radiant balmy spring. When pen or words cannot express The joy of springtime loveliness.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

4

D.A. Stewart

Trust

He who would conquor in the strife Must daily link this faltering life With God's great love; Must daily pray to him that he Can help in making others free From bonds that bind alone that he Hath power to move.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

5

D.A. Stewart

Hunting A Job

I am sleeping tonight on the cold, damp ground. By the side of the road, near the edge of the town. I see the lights of the city gleam; Reflected again in the crystal stream; I see the moon in the cold dark sky And I hear the hum of the cars go by.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

6

D.A. Stewart

Farm Life

I hired to a farmer one hot summer day To help him to save a big crop of hay. I had read of Maude in her Gingham gown. How she raked the hay when her Dad cut it down And of how she brought the judge to a stop While his heart beat so loud she could hear it pop.