FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

128

Sharlot Hall

Smell Of Rain

Smell of drought on every side: Every whirlwind flings aside Acrid, evil-smelling dust Like some burning mold or musk.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

130

B. Lynne McCarthy

Another Drought

Fear closes in, running headlong at my rimrock edge of sanity, a jaded horse that clatters across my soul, ribs heaving beneath a hide lathered white.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

132

The Bucking Bronco

Belle Starr

My love is a rider, wild horses he breaks But he promised to quit it and all for my sake. He ties up one foot and the saddle sets on, With a swing and a jump he is mounted and gone.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

134

Rhoda Sivell

Our Last Ride

We drifted out West together, In the light of the dying day; The town faded far behind us, Bath'd in its gas-light ray.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

135

Kay Shean

For Fred

For some, romance's path is in a look. And others long to savor soft caresses, Or search the pages of a Bradford book

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

136

Debra Coppinger Hill

Yellow Slicker

She wore his yellow slicker Though it almost drug the ground, It seemed to make things easier, As if he was still around.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

138

Linda Hussa

Return

After you've gone I notice your overnight bag on the bench by the screen door-- shaving kit, freshly ironed shirt.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

139

Jody Strand

Unfaithful

The cowboy made a solemn vow to his lovely bride-to-be: he promised to be faithful through all eternity.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

141

Marie W. Smith

Skipping Rocks

I rode today across the stony beach, picked a rounded purple skipper, flat from constant waters long caressed.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

142

Jody Strand

The Hired Man's Wife

With the job, your housing's furnished, but your house is not your own, And every time you have to move, you grumble and you groan.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

144

Dee Strickland Johnson

Tomboy

I was raised with seven brothers near a place called Concho Lake. There was Jamie, Jeff and Joseph, Sam and Seth and Sid and Jake.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

146

Laurie Wagner Buyer

Horseback, Through Snow

Horseback, through snow, my great-hearted husband leads the way the day after Thanksgiving

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

147

Evelyn Mellard

You Ride Away

I watached you ride Away this morning, Following you Beyond my sight With field glasses.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

148

Elizabeth Ebert

Cowboy Courtin' Time

When Romen went courtin' He climbed a balcony, And some men serenade you Upon their bended knee.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

150

Carol Oxley

Little Duck

When we take vacations from the ranch, We usually take to the hills; Packing and camping just for fun Is the way we look for our thrills.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

153

Rhoda Sivell

They Keep A-Stealing On You In The Night

When you think you have forgotten, And have lived the feelings down, And have shoved the best that's in you out of sight; You don't trouble in the daytime

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

154

Jo Becksted

The Cattleman's Prayer

God, as You know, I am a cattleman With quite a spread of cows and land. And tho' I proudly say, "These cows are mine," And that "my fence is on that line," I realize these things I own, When all is said, are just a loan.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

156

Deanna Dickinson McCall

Ridin'

Have you ever had to bundle up and ride When it was way too cold to be outside? It was your pardner who kept you alive When you wanted to lay in the snow and die.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

157

Carmel Randle

The Darkest Hour

Another sultry summer's day has shuffled to the west As I slip into a squatter's chair to snatch a moment's rest.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

162

Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns

Livin' Free

Just me, a horse, my dog and the wind Ride to earn our daily fee. Hard life, perhaps, but we love it, 'cause We're really living free.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

164

Carole Jarvis

The First Sure Signs Of Spring

Out where the open prairie spreads wide and the wind makes sagebrush sing, The snow has pulled back to the hills. It's the first sure sign of spring.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

166

Barney Nelson

An Old Monarch

I'd unsaddled my ol' pony and turned him out to graze. He'd given me some trouble, hadn't rode him in several days.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

167

Peggy Godfrey

Real Wealth

My neighbors don't live close to me But we've each got our niche Government says this area's poor Our secret is: we're rich.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

169

Jo Casteel

Sure Am Lucky

Labor Day is over And the day was darn sure fun, We jawed some with our neighbors, And danced when day was done.

Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'

Virginia Bennett

FC 11 B-69

170

Doris Daley

100 Years From Now

100 years from now, if the world's still in the game, May the earth recall our footprints, may the wind sing out our names.