FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

59

D.A. Stewart

The Land of Beyond

Ah yes. I have heard of the land beyond Where I'll rest at the close of day In all beauty it lies beneath violet skies In a land so far, far away Alluring it calls and its beauty appalls And all of its glories are found Though heavy the load and rough be the road That leads to that land of beyond.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

59

D.A. Stewart

Papa

Tender, gentle, brave and true Papa: that's the way with you You have borne it all for me But when young I could not see Just the things your hands could do To make life sweeter, seemed that you Never failed to cheer me on When it seemed that hope was gone.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

60

D.A. Stewart

Influence

Maybe the wrongs you have done won't condemn you Maybe you've turned before 'twas too late Maybe your sins have all been forgiven And all your past has been wiped off the slate Though you've changed and are kind and forgiving After the banner of sin you have furled But did you know that your wrongs are still living, And its influence is still in the world?

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

61

D.A. Stewarat

Despodency

Disappointment and failures my spirit has wounded And age my ambition has curbed. The summit of life is now reached and I look For the future to bring no reward. Gloom hovers around me like clouds in a storm, The tempest breaks loud on my ear.

Texas Poems By A Texan

FC 11 S-62

62

D.A. Stewart

Drifting Back To Texas

I'm drifting back to Texas Where the longhorned cattle roam Back where the air is pure and clear It's the place I call home. I long to hear the cowboys sing And the lonely coyotes call I'm going back to Texas For the round-up work this fall.

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

13

Sally Harper Bates

And if this be our swan song then let us sing it well. (from "Our Swan Song!")

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

14

Dave Stamey

It may not be what you're lookin' for, but it's here in what you find. (from "It's the West)". My mother's mouth got thin and hard and sage grew up 'round the edge of the yard. (from "Montana").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 E-25

15

Chris Isaacs

Whatever trail you travel kid whatever life may bring, just be thankful for your riding, because the journey is the thing. (from "The Journey"). I've got memories and friends and some old 8x10's and I'll tell you true pard, it's enough. (from "It's Enough").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

16

Baxter Black

Lightning cracked across the sky like veins on the back of your hand. (from "Range Fire"). All worldly riches and tributes of men can't hold a candle to the world of a friend. (from "Take Care of Your Friends").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

17

Baxter Black

She knows I ain't the owner but we're not into protocol. She's a cow and I'm a cowboy, and I guess that says it all... (from "Workin' for Wages").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

18

Buck Ramsey

The grass in morning dew would glisten until the sun would dry and blend the grass to ground and air to skying. (from "Grass"). My heart would beat the world a warning those horsemen now rode all with me and we were good and we were free. (from "Anthem").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

19

Buck Ramsey

A pattern of the past comes surface in dappled shadows on the floor. (from "Grass"). When thought is clear, things fall in place, we'll grasp the mood of Nature's face, we'll know the texture of real grace. (from "Grass").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

20

Laurie Wagner Buyer

Everything seems so easy now: breath in, breathe out, and keep on looking. (from "It's All Suckin' and Blowin' and Lookin' for the Right Note").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

21

Pat Richardson

Nothing fans the inspiration in the eager minds of youth Like some cowboy dancing lightly 'round the edges of the truth. (from "One Down and Two to Go"). I want my best horse saddled want my leather vest an' chaps an' one foot in the stirrup when her sense of humor snaps. (from "40 Years of Marriage).

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

22

Echo Klaproth

Drinkin' beer an' chasin' barmaids tryin' to re-enact their youth Ben an' John had one small drawback: neither one could tell the truth. (from "The First Liar"). The locals looked him over from his footwear to his lid drawing pictures in their minds of who he was and what he did. (from "The Speculators").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

23

Dennis Gaines

Centaur of the plains, some say, I smile and tip my hat. It pleases me to strike that mythic chord. Afoot I'm just a man, it's true, and a poor excuse at that, but mounted I'm a monarch far above the teeming horde. (from "The Centaur's Better Half").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

24

Wally McRae

The Mae West Rock on Hay Coulee? Just black and white snapshots remain. (from "Things of Intrinsic Worth"). Understand me full well. You can go to hell with your eminent domain. (from "Eminent Domain").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

25

Bill Larsen

What'a ya gonna do with a guy like me? For I never was as good as I used to be. (from "Whata Ya Gonna Do...") As Americans we cherish our freedom, though there are times that we overlook, the price that we pay to keep it that way and the pride and the guts that it took. (from "My Father's Flag").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

26

Tom Sharpe

Like lessons learned while living on the narrow ledge of life. (from "The Narrow Ledge of Life"). Great lines aren't determined by those who wrote them, but by those who remember them. (untitled)

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

27

Wylie Gustafson

Room to roam...I long to be lonesome Room to roam...forever and then some. (from "Room to Roam"). Here I sit devastated my libido derailed and my ego deflated Oh what a blow... an ugly girl told me, "No!" (from "Ugly Girl Blues").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

28

Don Kennington

Spurs ringing the knell of heroes fast fading as makers of music and writers of rhyme strive to recapture those days gone forever in vain as they delve through the annals of time. (from "Primal Cowboy"). Your halo disguised as a ten-gallon stetson chaps fanning the wind like cherubim wings charge on oh ye cowboy o'er miles of prairie while envious mortals revere you as kings. (from "Primal Cowboy").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

29

Red Steagall

I'm glad I held my temper 'cause when you fight fire with fire all you do is burn your fingers too. (from "The Blue Roan and the Kid"). Now we could let it go like this and take the easy route but doin' things the easy way ain't what it's all about. The boss expects a job well done from every man he's hired (from "The Fence That Me and Shorty Built").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

30

Elizabeth Ebert

He'd come looking for his paradise he hadn't come to die but he froze up on a lonely road 'neath a cold Montana sky. (from "He Talked About Montana"). And as we study their imperfection, we see too much of our own reflection. (from "Intro to Grand River Tales").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

31

Elizabeth Ebert

With barbed wires streteched so tightly that maestros could play a symphony. (from "Ballad of the Pasture Gate"). And this will be the option: take a cowboy for adoption and you'll know you helped to save a dying breed. (from "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone").

Scattered, Lasting Remnants: "Fine Lines" of Poetry and Song

Echo Klaproth

FC 11 K-25

32

Yvonne Hollenbeck

We are all aware that life is full of things we dread; instead of pulling on the reins, just give your horse his head. (from "Give Your Horse His Head"). It don't matter how many possessions you've gathered in life to lay claim, the one thing that won't be forgotten is the fact that you had a good name. (from "The Little Red Geramium").