FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Dry Crik Rview: Summer-Fall 1993

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

71

John C. Dofflemyer

The Creek

The coming & going of the creek with Woodducks, the feathered chatter, the mini-flood of floating deadfall, the bleached-moss-cobbled skull caps steamed stiff & dry dictate more than watergaps.

canyons, friends, sensitivity, poetry, hide, hill

Dry Crik Rview: Summer-Fall 1993

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

72

Max Peters

Two Thousand Miles From Dennis Levine

I wish I was back on the ranch near Great Falls, Montana, spittin' snoose into the Missouri River over a red bandanna, watchin' crows chase a hawk back u pinto a ravine, two thousand miles from Dennis Levine.

Treasure, jump-start, job, money

Dry Crik Rview: Summer-Fall 1993

John C. Dofflemyer

FC 11 D-20

73

Max Peters

Boots In The Oven

There's no end to the vanity of poets and singers, Journalists, novelists, promoters and thinkers. There's no ned to the bull and there's no way to fix it: you can put your boots in the oven, but that don't make them biscuits.

risk, tickets, opinions, minions

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

151

Janet Gingold

Cold Creek Remembered (1958)

One summer day, in my sixteenth year, I called my horse and gathered my gear, and stood by the pasture gate to see the little bay gallop up to me. Her tail flowed out like a silken banner,

courage, hay, dream, heart, grain, corral

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

153

Janet Gingold

Joseph (1959)

He was tired, and worn and worried; They had come such a very long way. And his eyes filled with weary frustration at the close of this troublous day. He had searched through the town for a lodging,

manager, infant, future, hillsides, smile

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

154

Janet Gingold

No Sale (1960s)

Well! I got so mad this mornin' that it almost spoilt my day! I rode down to see my neighbor about buyin' up hi hay; But when I got to his corral I saw an ugly sight: He was "breakin' in" a bronco, and he had him snubbed down tight.

sweat, death, pride, pain, twist

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

155

Janet Gingold

A Sheltie Will Do (1960s)

There are small dogs and big dogs, and middle-sized too, but for dogs of just-right size a sheltie will do. There are sweet dogs, and mean dogs, and placid ones too.

faithful, love, meadow, friend, hearts

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

156

Janet Gingold

A Journey Into Yesterday (1962)

I felt it when I reached the hill - the tug of bygone days - forsooth, my heart remembers still it's long-lost childhood ways. My eyes rejoice to see once more this earth of rich, red hue; I know it as I did before -

remember, rule, grace, treats

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

160

Janet Gingold

Spring Love (1962)

"In Spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love," they say, but i'm a little different, 'cause my mind don't work that way. In Spring I think of new-born lambs,

green grass, flowers, sparkling skies, rich

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

161

Janet Gingold

What Grandma Told Me (1964)

"There's a big old pine on yonder hill, that stands out black when the moon is yeller, and there, long ago, when nights was still, I'd go for to meet my blue-eyed feller. Me, ridin' up on my small bay mare,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

163

Janet Gingold

Town and Country (1965)

Oh, a man gets might tired when he's workin' on the range, and sometimes he'd like to settle down in comfort for a change, with an eight-to-five position and a cozy little home, with a car and boat and workshop,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

165

Janet Gingold

No Home On The Range (1967)

Well, I spent the whole day Sunday out a-lookin' for the range, but i couldn't seem to find it, for there's been a lot of change. Where we used to pen the cattle there's a string of new motels,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

166

Janet Gingold

Ace (1968)

He was just a skinny stud colt, all leggy, scared and black, and I won him in a card game, on aces, back to back. All the feller sorta chuckled when I brought him home that night, and I felt a bit embarrassed

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

170

Janet Gingold

A Brighter Day (1969)

She fell asleep one quiet dawn, and awoke to a brighter day, in The Land of Fresh Beginnings, with the pain all swept away. and her eyes went wide with wonder as her understanding grew,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

171

Janet Gingold

The Wreck Of Buckboard Number Nine (1969)

I was making a hand at the old T-Bar-C in the autumn of nineteen-o-nine, just a kid from the city, and one mighty green, bust so sure I could make it just fine. I had milked me a cow, and I'd rode me a horse

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

174

Janet Gingold

Doby (1970)

I braided as strip of his soft, white mane, then tenderly put it away; and i found, as many have done before, that "Goodbye" is so hard to say. His body was weak, and his eyes were dim,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

175

Janet Gingold

Norway Victorious (1989)

They used to hide away their flags, and hide their hearts as well; but what is hidden still exists, as anyone can tell. who once were freedom's oldest friends invaders now had bound;

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

176

Janet Gingold

Ern Pedler (1914-1989)

Out of the shadows a lone man rode; "Twas a Morgan Horse that the man bestrode, chestnut coat and a gleaming hide, a prancing step and a look of pride. A stallion he was, with spirit strong,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

177

Janet Gingold

The Beauty Of Words (1989)

I love the sound of words, like heather, pomander and spice, I love the singing sound of words, like hyacinth and paradise. I love the scented sound of words,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

178

Janet Gingold

Grown Old (2002)

The saddle gathers dust these days, the bridle's on the wall, the barn has lost the scent of hay, there's no horse in the stall. My boots have truly lost heir shine, my chaps have gotten stiff,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

180

Janet Gingold

The Best Laid Plans (2003)

I never intended to be an old cowpoke. I planned to be richer than Midas by far. I meant to start out with a few head of cattle. I truly believed I could lasso a star! but all of my plans seemed to soon come a-cropper.

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

183

Janet Gingold

The Fifth of July (2004)

The fireworks are over, flags furled and put away. The picnic spots are empty, It's just another day. the bows are out of horse tails, show saddles on the rack,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

184

Janet Gingold

The Down-and-Outer (2004)

My dad was full of platitudes. He flung them out like jewels. It took me years to realize they were his teaching tools. "The watched pot never boils", He'd say when I just couldn't wait.

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

185

Janet Gingold

The Christmas Miracle (2004)

Only child on lonely outpost, not a soul to share his play. Every night he kissed hi parents, went off to his room to pray. "Little prairie dogs, dear father, play together, all the day,

The Lavonne Houlton Compendium: Ponies, Poetry and Prose

FC 11 G-42

187

Janet Gingold

Cowpoke Philosophy (2005)

Well, I read theevening paper, and it scared me near in two, with its columns-long palaver about the world to-do. Seems there's little wars all over, and crimes and violence -