FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

112

Jay Snider

Tyrone and Tyree

I've learned lots of lessons 'bout cowboyin' up 'cause I've been a cowboy since I was a pup and my dad taught me

persuasion, nature, collars, trail

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

113

Amy Hale Auker

Writing My Way Through

Sometimes I just want to be a girl, I don't want to be so tough...I want to turn and ride to the house, say, hey boys, I've had enough.

cowgirl, lip gloss, beauty, money

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

115

Peggy Godfrey

Kinda Like Dancing

There's more to building fence than hanging up a wire more to ranching in the West than money or desire.

luck, stockman, livestock, nature, wealth

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

116

Ruth Whitman

September 7, 1846

Across the white plain of salt I see an army of wagons teams dogs children passing near the horizon and

company, woman, skirt, traveling

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

124

Curley Fletcher

The Cowboy's Soliloquy

I've ridden afar on the trails of life; And whether I've been right er wrong in saddlin' the pleasure, ropin' the strife-

knowledge, college, afraid, grade

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

118

S. Omar Barker

Thirsty Cowboy

There's a sayin' out West, and it's true, I'll allow, that a man who can't drink from the track of a cow ain't much of a cowboy;

well, stinks, homesteader

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

120

Red Steagall

The Memories in Grandmother's Trunk

They came in a wagon from St. Jo, Missouri. Grandmother was seven years old.

camp, dream, moon, car, wagon

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

123

S. Omar Barker

Cowboy Ridin'

I've rode where it's wet, I've rode where it's dry, I've rode the low country and also high.

headache, dance, pitch, gear

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

124

Wally McRae

The Coyote

If you get back off the interstates and away from urban trends, You'll find a coyote doesn't have a multitude of friends

tribute, varmints, ledger

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

125

Curley Fletcher

The Pot Wrassler

How are you there cowboy, I hope you are well, Jest light from your saddle and rest fer a spell. Here are the makin's,

wagon, jean, truck, galoots

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

126

Rod Miller

Morning Glory

Stars punch holes in the dark and the moon curls on the sky like a hoof paring from a soft-footed horse

impatient, work, shoes clang

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

127

Peggy Godfrey

David

Bag of rags I hate sheep he says as he scoops up a newborn in one hand holds the goofy ewe down with a firm knee

lamb, smile, shy, hate

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

128

S. Omar Barker

Hangin'

They had a code on the old frontier, and most old-timers heeded it. They never did hang a man, I hear, Unless they thought he needed it.

canyon, stray, code, frontier

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

129

S. Omar Barker

One or the Other

The man who brags that he never got throwed ain't one we much admire. He's either, as cowpokes long have knowed,

tenderfoot, liar, canyon

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

131

Peggy Godfrey

Night Shift

Into camper quarters where I will spend the night I carry my thermos and snacks turn on the heater and lights.

coyote, oats, moon, stars

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

132

S. Omar Barker

Mustang Manners

If you say that a cowboy got throwed off his bronc, You sure ain't no range diplomat. It's much more polite if you merely remark

hat, dog, polite, hat

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

133

Linda Hasselstrom

Digging Potatoes

We divided it all, but my grandmother's shoes wouldn't fit anyone but me. She'd walked years to the old stove with firewood,

dry, view, flowers, holes

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

133

Linda Hasselstrom

Uncle

He sips coffee thick hands wraped around the cup. "This generation ain't got no corner on violence."

Harold Hasselstrom, sunburned, bills, quitter

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

134

Chris Isaacs

The Little White Lie

I pulled in one day at the sale barn and saw the horseshoer's truck in the yard. So I pulled on over to vist,

drummer, duty, pistol, rookie

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

136

Laurie Wagner Buyer

Ode to an Old Cow Horse

Touchier than a range colt, old hoss, you ain't never yet been sacked out good. All strung out on nerves with city folks

stubborn, sugar, mule, snow, drink

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

137

Linda Hasselstrom

Homesteading in Dakota

It was a typical prairie homestead: a hundred sixty dusty acres with not one tree. Mr. Fisher put up a soddy for his wife, five kids,

barn, garden, buffalo, trail

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

138

S. Omar Barker

Pants Polisher

They asked me "What's a saddle?" So I told 'em it's a kack, a rig of wood nd leather shaped to fit a horse's back.

history, steam, applehorn, pants

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

140

Sandy Seaton Sallee

Code of the West

Ella Liddy Watson stood pround at six foot two sparkling eyes and willing smile for all she loved to do

divorce, family, resentment, fate

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

142

Jo Lynne Kirkwood

A Cowboy Season

In March, when the calves started comin' the ground was still covered in snow. That night twenty gave birth

frozen, powder, moonlight, ghost

Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-59

146

Wendell Berry

Her First Calf

Her fate seizes her and brings her down. She is heavy with it. It wrings her. The great weight is heaved out of her. It eases.

womb, world, hair, fish