FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

83

E.J. Kirchoff

A Warm Summer Night

A big silver moon in the evening sky is round and so full where it shines there on high to brighten the valley with silvery light on a peacefully quiet and warm summer night.

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

85

E.J. Kirchoff

Neighbors

We're gatherin' the cattle but we've finished for the day. Just loafin' 'round the fire with our supper stowed away. The time of day for hashin' over work that has been done.

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

89

E.J. Kirchoff

Ain't So

He rattled in one evenin' with his gear stowed in behind the front seat of a Model T. The kind you had to wind. A touring car. It had a top, but it was badly frayed. He said he sure would like to rope himself a job that paid.

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

92

E.J. Kirchoff

Friendship

The world is full of treasures. Precious gems of many kind. The yellow metal known as gold that men have died to find. Some works of art are priceless.

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

94

E.J. Kirchoff

Speechless

Old Bill is shoein' horses and he's worked up quite a sweat. The sun is beatin' plenty hot. In fact, he's wringin' wet. It's at a little rodeo. And out behind the chutes he's pickin' up some extra dough to buy a pair of boots.

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

96

E.J. Kirchoff

Success

"There's sure a lot of difference in what people call success. But each to his own likin' is how it should be, I guess. Some figger lots of money is what makes success complete.

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

98

E.J. Kirchoff

Reaction

Old Bill said, "I am reminded of a day some years ago. How some folks are agonna react is a thing you never know. "I was snappin' our some broncos. At the job I'm pretty fair.

Trail Dust

FC 11 K-32

99

E.J. Kirchoff

Awakening

All my life I'd see the sunsets paint their magic in the sky; known the lofty, timbered mountains; granite peaks that tower high; the sylvan mountain meadows where a creek meanders through. And the sheen of grass that sparkles

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

7

E.J. Kirchoff

Cookie

"He wasn't much to look at. Fact, was homelier than sin. Beer belly some protrudin' bald of head and double chin. One eye that looked off yonder. Had a scar across his face. A nose that had been flattened,

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

13

E.J. Kirchoff

Better Get the Gun

This big old steer was in the pen and somewhat on the prod. He's shake his head and blow his nose while pawin' up the sod. He's mostly Durham, red and white, but in his pedigree there was a trace of Texas cow it sure is plain to see.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

15

E.J. Kirchoff

Swore Off

We're loafin' 'round the fire. Work all finished for the day. And smokin' that last cigarette before we hit the hay. Old Bill said, "Them there coffin nails will make you short on breath. And fill your lungs with nicotine. And cause an early death.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

18

E.J. Kirchoff

The Feud

"These old boys," said Smokey Jones, "was Feudin' bad when I'm a kid. Neither one could find no good in what the other feller did. Growin' up they're bosom buddies. Quite the handles of a plow for the yen of playin' nurse maid

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

20

E.J. Kirchoff

Old Jake and His Teeth

Old Jake had been a rancher all his long and busy life. He had a spread on Stewart Creek. Never had himself a wife. He'd filled there a homestead 'way back in an early day.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

23

E.J. Kirchoff

The Bronc and the Match

"A lot of years have come and gone since I first learned to ride. When I was barely big enough to toddle 'long outside. In fact, my first bronc was the foot of my pa's ridin' boot," said Latigo. "He'd bounce me there and say, ' Ma, ain't it cute?

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

25

E.J. Kirchoff

It Makes a Difference

Smokey Jones said, "This here happened now some number years ago. Back then I'm just a botton of a kid, I'd have you know. We're movin' steers to make. Much to far to go by trail. We'd drove 'em to the railroad, and we're shippin' 'em by rail.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

28

E.J. Kirchoff

Old Bill and the Bronc

I caught me a bronc that was wild. Right fresh from the sage and the sand. Not since he was branded and gelded had he felt the tough of a hand. He was four years old and a beauty. A star on his head and a bay.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

31

E.J. Kirchoff

Latigo's Big Business Deal

When Latigo was passin' by he'd stop and talk a spell. It might be just the weather or some yarn he had to tell. His ranch up there on Beaver creek was just a modest spread.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

34

E.J. Kirchoff

The Green Bronc

"I well recall," Old Wilbur said, "When Joe took him a wife. She didn't know a blessed thing about a rancher's life.Joe's brought himself a ranch by then. But hadn't settled down.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

36

E.J. Kirchoff

Old Bill Learns To Drive

When Old Bill got his Model T he said, "It ain't alive. So it should be some easier than any mules to drive. I'll have the dritter halter broke and gentled in a week," he said when they delivered to his ranch there up the creek.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

39

E.J. Kirchoff

Whiskey Talk

This old bronc was sure high headed. He was snorty, big and stout. And he sure was plenty wild after four years runnin' out. As a colt he'd felt a lass rope. On his hide was burned a brand. Ever since he'd roamed the rimrocks never touched by human hand.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

43

E.J. Kirchoff

Good Old Days

A bunch of us were talkin' remencen days of old when life was mighty perfect. Or at least, that's how it's told. I guess we got some mauldin 'bout them good old days of yore.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

46

E.J. Kirchoff

The Farmer, His Truck and the Train

"Now the Good Lord has a way," said Latigo with sober face, "Of a-lookin' after enfants, dang fools of human race. "And the tenderfeet and greenhorns get away with things they do

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

49

E.J. Kirchoff

Sudden Change in the Weather

We're up around the Darby Peaks. Fall roundup's underway. The evening turned off cold from what had been a sultry day. We've got a big old fire to ward off the growin' chill while ki-otes serenade the moon off on a distant hill.

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

53

E.J. Kirchoff

Dumb Brute

We're there in Wilbu's stable. Someone said, "Believe me now, I've never seen a critter half as stupid as a cow. You talk about a dumb brute, that sure fits 'em to a T. A thing that's any dumber I don't think I'll ever see."

Bunchgrass, Sage and Alkili

FC 11 K-34

56

E.J. Kirchoff

In Great Demand

This old horse was sure a-packin' of a lot of different brands. Showin' plain that in his lifetime he had frequently changed hands. He was Roman nosed and pin eared.With a ratty tail and mane. He was hipsot and his backbone and his rubs were showin' plain.