FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

13

Fred Lambert

Dogies

Huntin fer dogies--trailin' the wake Of motherless critters in coulee an' brake; Down in the canyon, out on the range, Huntin' fer dogies, hell, but it's strange.

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

14

Fred Lambert

Ridin' the Trail

Ridin' the trail in driftin' sand From Yuba down to the Rio Grande, Where gilas play and the canyon wall Gives back to the cry of the lobo's call.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

1

Doug Foshee

Good Sounds

Sometimes I get to thinking about all the things that I hold dear Smelling fresh mowed hay, seeing a sunset, and the everyday things I hear.

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

16

Fred Lambert

Cyclones And Dogies

It was snowing nice and gentle At the Cross-Bar Lazy B, When the foreman, Wild Hoss Charley, Lit his pipe an' said to me.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

3

Doug Foshee

The Birthday Question

The day that I turned fifty my wife decided to throw Me a big bar-b-que so she invited most everybody we did know.

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

19

Fred Lambert

The Night Rider (A Soliloquy)

Sunset--th' colors glow Upon th' clouds an' sky. Thar's somethin' over yander In th' west I'd like t' try.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

5

Doug Foshee

A Dad's Advice

As the cowboy's son was approaching manhood his daddy sat him down, "Now, Son, you're growing up and you'll soon be spending more time in town

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

20

Fred Lambert

Echoes From Yokel Row

We were speaking of the markets At the Cross-Bar Lazy B, When the foreman, Wild Hoss Charley, Told this simple tale to me.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

7

Doug Foshee

Huntin' Stories

On an elk hunt in New Mexico the fall of 2003 We was sittin' 'round the campfire when somebody began to speak

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

11

Doug Foshee

Horse Traders

We met up in South Texas some twenty years ago. I don't recall his last name, but he answered to Elmo.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

15

Doug Foshee

Red Top Cane

In DeWitt County, Texas some years ago gone by The winter grass was short. Summer had been awful dry.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

19

Doug Foshee

The Cross-eyed Pool Player

One Saturday after payday we headed into town To "turn our wolves loose" and to have ourselves a round.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

23

Doug Foshee

Stressed

We all feel stressed in our daily life. It may be our job or husband or wife. Our kids contribute to this stressful routine Especially when they become a teen.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

25

Doug Foshee

Look Twice

The first time I spied her I eased up beside her. My saddle was creaking. I just started speaking.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

27

Doug Foshee

A Good Life

Once I had a horse named May. She was honest and true and would work hard all day. She did her best and was sound as a dollar And was always willing when I called upon her

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

23

Fred Lambert

Rocky Mountain Canary

Sometimes I git to thinkin' Thet they mebbe made yuh wrong-- Yo're body short an' stumpy, An' yo're ears so cussed long;

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

29

Doug Foshee

Close Encounters of the Cowboy Kind

As I was coming back from town one night (I had been to the waterhole.), I saw a funny looking light. It had a kinda green glow. I eased my truck up to a stop. From the truck I eased as well.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

33

Doug Foshee

The Painting

I once saw a painting where a man roped a bear. An experience like that I thought I might want to share. Of bbears there were none and none nowhere near. So I says to myself, "I'll just rope me a deer."

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

24

Fred Lambert

Little Papoose

Of what are you thinking, grave little Papoose, Tied fast in y our buckskins like mummies of yore? Do you know the legends of Old Mother Goose Or the five little pigs and the sleepy-time lore?

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

35

Doug Foshee

Kindergarten Cowboy

In the house the little boy walked. To his Dad he said, "I'll have no more schooling. I'm going to bed." This set the man back. Of his son he wanted to know Why after just one week of Kindergarten to no more schooling he'd go.

Bunkhouse Tales of Wild Hoss Charley

FC 11 L-37

26

Fred Lambert

Cupid and Cactus

We were riding after dogies On the Cross-Bar Lazy B, When the foreman, Wild Hoss Charley, Lit his pipe and said to me:

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

37

Doug Foshee

New Boots

The bottoms of his boots were thin. The tops were shot as well. He could step on a dime and he knew right away if it was laying heads or tails.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

39

Doug Foshee

Old Blue Cat

This here is a story 'bout an old cat I once knew. He was cross-eyed and ornery and his color was blue. He lived way out back behind the horse barn 'Cause we'd see that old scoundrel just about every morn.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

41

Doug Foshee

Big Boy

In Cuero, Texas during the Great Gobbler Roundup A parade was to be held. I got there about sunup. I rode my horse Big Boy, an old sorrel nag Who to my knowledge never carried a flag.

Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor

FC 11 F-20

43

Doug Foshee

Old Hats and Old Friends

My wife's a fine lady. There's no doubt about that. But she has no understanding 'bout my old cowboy hat.