FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

14

Wallace McRae

Eminent Domain

From the Highland sod, with faith in God, to this land, young and profane, grandad was drawn, long ere the dawn of Eminent Domain.

regrets, free enterprise, obligations, threat, train

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

15

Sue Wallis

A Hundred Thousand Hungry Wolves

Sixty thousand hungry wolves eating cows in Canada another several grand in Minnesota nobody knows how many in Montana which seems to us a fairly decent quota

Yellowstone, taxes, extinction, needy, money, homeless

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

16

Wallace McRae

Crisis

Get the coal out, with a tumult and shout. Yes, tear it out of the ground. There's a crisis to smite and cities to light. There's billions of tons to be found.

taxes, swimming pool, guilt, duty, faceless, slave, monster

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

18

Rod McQueary

For Steve And Ted

Slim comes back, reporting after jeeping through the wood hills. He brings home no surprises, "Times are hard, there, for a drink." It's hot and drouthy, by October,

danger, windmill, trail, respect, wildlife problems

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

20

J. B. Allen

A Good Lettin Alone Is Worth Two Workins

That ol "lonesome" comes a creepin - like a cougar in the night moving silent on them big ol padded feet. Strikin swiftly in the stillness of the high-up

moon, honor, reason, dream, challenge, implement

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

22

J. B. Allen

Silent Witness

The wind had blown for countless years 'cross oceans, lakes and land, as climates changed and creatures lived and died, barely conscious of the puny shapes

whirlwinds, pursue, desert, blame, scar, waste

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

24

Buck Ramsey

Conservation

We've never owned a blade of grass (and, really, nor have you), nor held the title to a cow, but we've herded quite a few.

money, mystery, rules, ambiguity

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

25

Alibates Ranch

Belonging

I'll ride these westward ridges slow and rein this hasty horse back so he'll wait for home, though unimpressed the sun is setting in the west.

darkness, past, judged, tumbleweed, harmless

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

26

Audrey Hankins

Consequences

Jake made the change quite easily when the ranchers were forced from the land. In spite of a "cowboy mentality", he's a busy construction man.

windmill, fools, slaughter, eagle, silent

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

28

Audrey Hankins

Friends Of The Wild Cow

If cattle are banned from public land, watch some do-gooder switch cows in mid-stream. She'll solicit donations for her new vocation,

congress, law, inhumane, steak, species

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

29

Audrey Hankins

The Granny Cow

We found her on Silver Mountain, in the oakbrush way up high. A freckled-faced old granny cow with murder in her eye. She shook her bony, toothless head,

comfort, care, wisdom, trailer

Dry Crik Review (Environmental Issue): Fall 1991

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

30

Kell Robertson

The Old Man Goes Home

Under the discount store the fast food place the furniture outlet under all that asphalt is one of the best chunks of black bottom farm land

kiss, womanhood, garden, diapers, parking lot

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

5

Griff Crawford

Give me the West

Give me the roll of a broncho's lope, the swing of the open way

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

6

Sweet Genevieve

O, Genevieve I'd give the world to live again the lovely past!

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

7

Rega Kramer McCarty

Time

Twenty-four hours of time each day, and yours the power to direct it.

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

7

Claribel Weeks Avery

Fulfillment

This is the thought that makes me proud and glad, my children have the things I wanted.

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

8

My gal is a high born lady

Thar is gwine to be a festival this evenin' and a gatherin' of color mighty rare

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

9

Samuel Minturn Peck

Swinging in the grapevine swing

When I was a boy on the old plantation, down by the deep bayou,

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

10

Daisy Bell

There is a flower within my heart, Daisy, Daisy!

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

11

George L. McDermott

The Canyon

Those giant walls of pictured rock, have filled my heart with wonder;

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

12

The man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo

I've just got here, thro' Paris, from the sunny southern shore, I to Monte Carlo went, just to raise my winter's rent.

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

13

Richard LE Gallienne Song

She's somewhere in the sunlight strong, her tears are falling in the rain,

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

13

I'll remember you, love, in my prayers

When the curtains of night are pinned back by the starts, and the beautiful moon sweeps the sky

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

14

Her eyes don't shine like diamonds: Three little lads love-story

Three little lads were seated one day, and their love stories did tell, Tom told of Kitty, who was so pretty

Famous Cowboy and Mountain Ballads

FC 11 F-23

15

Ballade of Boot-hill

In silent tombs the killers sleep on naked, sun-burnt desert land