FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

183

Rod Nelson

Trip to Wisconsin was a trip down memory lane

If you wonder how important you are and how long you will be remembered, tell me all you know about your great-grandparents. I have a great photo of my great-grandmother Inga Olson. It shows a sturdy woman feeding chickens in front of a granary with a nice stone foundation.

trip, great-grandparents, memory

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

186

Rod Nelson

Forget new equipment lots, find me a good junk yard

I have always enjoyed driving around the country and enjoyed driving around the country and enjoying the scenery. I can drive hundreds of miles and never think to turn the radio on. I don't mind traveling by myself, but enjoy company if I have it.

junk yard, vehicle, recycle

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

188

Rod Nelson

Some out-of-state visitors can appreciate North Dakota's beauty

North Dakota sure seems to impress people in different ways. My friend Kenny has a 2-1/2 year old grandson that lives in Minnesota. He came with his mother to visit recently. The little guy had been sleeping on the trip. When he woke up on a lonely stretch of North Dakota highway he straightened up, looked around very puzzled and said, "Where are all the cars?"

nature, empty, tourist, prairie

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

191

Rod Nelson

Heroes in hardhats

Things may be going smoothly, As far as you can see, And you think you and your Missus Live in perfect harmony.

lineman, power line, love

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

192

Rod Nelson

Three ol' cowboys hittin' the rodeo circuit

Summer is almost a joke. It goes by so fast we seldom even notice it until it is over. Rural people, especially, find summer running out before they have had a chance to enjoy it much.

rodeo, experience, age, travel

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

195

Rod Nelson

We North Dakotans like to work hard and stay busy

A friend recently sent me an article that mentioned that North Dakota is the least inactive state. I managed to get the drift that we North Dakotans sleep a little less, watch less television, and work more than the average American. I question that information.

railroader, labor, work

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

197

Rod Nelson

Raising son to be a chiropractor was one smart move

I jumped the yard fence a couple weeks ago. I'm thinking about trying it again, preferably when I have a better audience. I did have a couple witnesses when I did this feat, but they aren't talking about it enough. Perhaps jumping a fence since I broke my leg 10 years ago.

fence, pain, son, chiropractor

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

199

Rod Nelson

Labor Day was wet, but wasn't a wash

Things are picking up here at Sims. I woke up to rain on Labor Day and went to bed with the rain still patting on the roof. The total rainfall in Sims was 2.62". Labor Day is a big day in the Sims/Almont area.

rain, holiday, participation, parade

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

201

Rod Nelson

Deleting 'The Bleep' from our society

It is getting to be that time of year again when I am tempted to watch a little television. The evenings are starting to lengthen faster than my ability to find a good book. I am once again tired of the bleep.

profanity, movie, entertainment

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

203

Rod Nelson

2010 political campaigns hinging on health care reform

Well, we're grinding down to the end of another painful campaign. I haven't seen a campaign ad yet that gives anyone an idea of how qualified the candidate may be. I wish campaigning would be limited to debates or public forums.

politics, election, health, policy

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

205

Rod Nelson

Car deal was best it could be for 'family heirloom'

The Missus sold Sharkie. It was a long time coming. Sharkie was a 1986 Honda. My brother-in-law bought Sharkie when he was brand new. For some reason Lance really liked that car.

sale, car, bargain, deal

Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip

FOLK COLL 11 N-18

208

Rod Nelson

Lutefisk supper is a long-standing tradition for many

Almont pulled it off again. The lutefisk supper is over. It takes a lot of loyalty to put on a lutefisk supper; loyal people to help, and loyal people to eat the lutefisk.

lutefisk, veteran, tradition, culture

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

9

Roy R Moore Jr

The Next Rodeo

T'was a long, long, long, time ago when I rode my first Rodeo. I was a scared young cowboy just trying my luck, climbed on, pulled down my hat ... said, "Let 'er buck."

death, rodeo, perseverance

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

13

Roy R Moore Jr

Look on the License Plate

Is Texas the cowboy state? Some say it is , some say it ain't. I say Wyoming is, there's no debate It's on the license plate!!

license plate, nickname, cowboy

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

16

Roy R Moore Jr

Advice from an Old Buckaroo

There are important decisions in life Some that minimize strife. The most important is choosing a bride One that will stay by your side. I know the kind 'Cuz they are hard to find.

marriage, advice, wife, love

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

21

Roy R Moore Jr

Blizzard of Forty Eight

While trailing Long Horned cows... Texas to Wyoming. Five thousand bedding down, nary a one was roaming. I was tired from riding 3 days and two nights in a row. Blizzard came in, wind blowing and a foot of snow.

cattle, drive, blizzard, death

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

28

Roy R Moore Jr

Growing Up

When I was about 3 foot tall, just a wee young lad My greatest thrill was riding with Dad It was either horseback, or in a pickup truck On those days we went for a ride, I was in luck.

childhood, raising, parents

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

31

Roy R Moore Jr

A Cowboy's Faith

Faith is something you should often ponder about. In reality, faith is a feeling you can't be without. Faith you will need along the way. Faith every single step you take every single day.

faith, ride, courage, rain

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

34

Roy R Moore Jr

Riding the Rocking M

Over 75 years I've rode... Many places in the cold. Pushing cows in the blazing hot sun, Now it's just... riding for fun.

ride, rodeo, ranch, life, memory

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

42

Roy R Moore Jr

Time to Remember

I'm often asked, at 82 How is my memory? "Memory is good, I say Better than my knee"

memory, forget, aging

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

47

Roy R Moore Jr

The Homestead

My daddy was a teamster and a stockman from the state of Idaho. My momma was a lady from a stock farm in Ontario. They filed on a homestead way back in nineteen thirty two. First a tent, then a herder's wagon, then a cabin for two.

cabin, simplicity, homestead, family

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

51

Roy R Moore Jr

R. U. The Teamster

R.U. was a young cowboy hired on a ranch Called The Walking M it would seem It was haying time in August of '49 Walking M needed another man to drive a team.

teamster, ranch, accident, faith

One Cowboy's Faith, Family and Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

57

Roy R Moore Jr

Riding the Pony Express

This is a story of orphan teenage boys In the spring of eighteen sixty Ridin' from St. Louis to Sacramento and back Makin' an imprint in Western History

mail, orphan, history, bible

One Cowboy's Faith, Family & Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

62

Roy R Moore Jr

My Bucket List

Was only 8 years old when I started My bucket list. Wanted to ride where I had never been But already missed.

mongolia, uintah, ride

One Cowboy's Faith, Family & Friends

FOLK COLL 11 M-74

67

Roy R Moore Jr

The Cowboy and the Sheep Herder

The story happened back in the fall of '47 It was deer season then. Our cowboy was a fellow named Joe Martin, The Sheepherder - Henry Neven.

poacher, veteran, youth