FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

124

Waddie Mitchell

We the People

Come and share of your opinions, be received with open ears For we are int'rested in what you have to say But, don't try to push agendas with low tactics or through fear Or, you will find out who you're up against that day

citizenship, politics, responsibility

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

126

Waddie Mitchell

A Cowboy's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas an' out on the spread We finished the chores an' were goin' to bed 'Tweren't much Yule-tide spirit, no stockin's were hung No tree was fixed up an' no carols were sung

christmas, story, coffee

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

128

Waddie Mitchell

After Too Late

Sometimes a law will soothe a threat and put to rest our biggest fret And then too son we all forget we had a fret at all Then tragedy reveals its quirks, brings on decisions made knee-jerk So, we've learned well what doesn't work from all the tries that failed

poetry, problem, universe

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

129

Waddie Mitchell

Bill Maupin

A call brought the news, "Maupin's got the leukemia an' is gonna go live with his daughter They say he was into some high stage of it 'fore they ever found out that he's got'er

cancer, visiting, memories

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

131

Waddie Mitchell

Blood, Sweat and Steers

We were trottin' home for dinner Our day, thus far, had been a winner We'd been turnin' out some pairs on railroad lease I's ridin' with ol' Jim An' if I's asked to describe him I'd have to say he was a cowboy masterpiece

dinner, steer, struggle

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

134

Waddie Mitchell

Commutin'

There ain't nothin' like the feelin' Thet ya git down deep inside As ya trot out in the mornin' When you've hired on to ride

commute, horse, range

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

136

Waddie Mitchell

Dad's Story to Me

Was the eldest of dad's uncles Took his dad's place when he flew Raised his brothers with his mother Times got tough but they got through

father, death, uncle

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

139

Waddie Mitchell

Difference

For years I heard, while growin' up 'Bout the difference in cowboy styles An' figured the difference 'tween strict wrong or right Was a region, or in some cases, just miles

fashion, lasso, rig

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

142

Waddie Mitchell

Experience of Life

I used to wonder why it'd take so many scars for us to learn It seems we can't relate to hot, until our fingers have been burned But, like cream destined to be butter, first, we have to take a turn Through that churn we call experiencing life

life, experience, goals

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

144

Waddie Mitchell

Grasshopper

You made up your mind about your chosen career When your chin couldn't even grow hair And you learned what you know from your peers and the years Now the 'dream' is the 'done, and been there'

youth, growth, age

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

146

Waddie Mitchell

Horsemen

your day always started with hoolahan lob which corresponds well with the sun an' the job an' those two conspired for your time to rob when your days still felt plentiful cheap

horses, nature, job

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

148

Waddie Mitchell

Jusanudder Toast

We'll drink to distinctly defiers We'll drink to them thinks with their head We'll drink to the meek and compliers and We'll drink to them died and is dead

drink, toasting, alcohol

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

150

Waddie Mitchell

Nevada in Spring

The cows are turned out and the meadow's been dragged Ya picked up some eight-way in town The cheat grass is now giving way to the blue bunch The sun slowed its rush to go down

spring, easter, nature

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

151

Waddie Mitchell

Our Little Church

The trees north and west sides help dampen the wind The new cement sidewalk helps clean shoes get in It is cold in the winter but warms some come spring I ain't sure about autumn (it's a deer huntin' thing)

church, wind, trees

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

153

Waddie Mitchell

Pride Goeth

Dad-gum the luck, this dad-burn truck has up and broken down A'way out here in no-wheresville at least ten miles from town And I'll have to hike, cuz it ain't like I'm apt to hitch a ride This late at night, cuz folks that's right are snuggled tight inside

luck, pride, bother

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

155

Waddie Mitchell

Selling the RV

Hello, yea, I've a 1983 Toyota 4X4, 18-foot long Sunraider motorhome RV for sale That's selling today for a song

rv, sale, repairs

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

159

Waddie Mitchell

Stub

Ten plus years we worked together Tendin' other people's cows And he got closer than a blood-related brother I came up with most our: What nows?

camp, cowboy, friend

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

161

Waddie Mitchell

That 'No Quit' Attitude

While gathering cattle near the ruins Of a long abandoned homestead In the shadows of the mountains Questions swarmed around my mind

endurance, cowboy, cattle

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

165

Waddie Mitchell

The Rawhide Braider

"Under two, over two, lay, pull, again This will be a new quirt when I get to the end And will dress up the saddle of some lucky friend Under two, over two, lay, pull, again"

rope, braid, craftsman

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

166

Waddie Mitchell

The Sum

Does the sum of who you could be Equal up to who you are? Are you asking enough of yourself?

sum, life, goals

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

167

Waddie Mitchell

What Will I Tell Him

What will I tell him, you ask me When my son's trying to make up his mind To ride for a living like I have Or explore what the world has to find?

son, advice, cowboy

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

168

Waddie Mitchell

Before Security

Before security was needed In our schools, or on our doors Before we'd lock our vehicles When we'd go in the store When kids were safe to walk the streets Play at the park, trust stranger's treats When guns were thought of as a tool And spanking brought no ridicule This world was still a cruel and dangerous place

security, laws, life

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

170

Waddie Mitchell

Bet at the Bar

It's said every story has a hero Or at least one character that's main But to call Larry anything less than grotesque Is borderin' on the insane

bar, drinking, teeth

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

173

Waddie Mitchell

Come Don

I saw emotions well up in him as she pointed with a grin Sayin', "Sign here at the bottom please" while handing him a pen I could tell he needed venting, or I feared he would explode So I dug in for the onslaught while he proceeded to unload

system, government, lawyers

One Hundred Poems

Waddie Mitchell

FOLK COLL 11 M-73

175

Waddie Mitchell

Family Relations

Family relations are fragile things and the source of a lot of contention It is so hard to measure the stress that it brings or to even pin down the intentions

family, relationship, regret