FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

1

Bob Johnston

A Breed Apart

There's a breed of man that roams this land.

gear, clothing, clothes, occupation, wrinkles, language, survival, attitudes, people, respect

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

2

Bob Johnston

Me and the Dalley Roper

Now there's them that rope and dalley.

roping, dalleying, finger, fingers, amputation, body parts, style

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

4

Bob Johnston

Cow Country

You are a hell of a way from any where.

wildlife, remote, lifestyle

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

5

Bob Johnston

Cow Camp Soup

Take a ten penny nail, throw er in a pail.

cooking, food, recipe,

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

6

Bob Johnston

Comfort

I've built a thousand camp fires.

camping, campfire, day-dream, friends, loneliness

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

8

Bob Johnston

The Devil Horse

I was catching mustangs, making a buck or two.

bucking, horse, roping, taming

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

12

Bob Johnston

A Hill Top in Summer

I feel welcome on this hill top.

summer, plants, beauty, smell, smells, warmth

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

13

Bob Johnston

A Summer's Day

As I sit here drowsing, dreaming.

Summer, sunshine, dreaming, aging, mind, knowledge, wisdom

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

14

Bob Johnston

The Good Old Days

The folklorist keeps asking.

work, ranching, hardship, childhood, progress, modern

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

4

Bob Johnston

Cow Country

You are a hell of a way from anywhere.

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

16

Bob Johnston

My Companion

If you live in city streets.

city, wind, friends, hardships, environment

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

19

Bob Johnston

I Think

Of sagebrush and soap weeds, pines on the hills.

plants, environment, lifestyle, outdoors

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

20

Bob Johnston

Old Ed the Story Teller

When I was young I had a friend.

friends, age, storytelling, truth, history

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

22

Bob Johnston

The Horse Trainer

This feller brought me a horse to ride.

hardship, horse trading, training, riding,

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

24

Bob Johnston

The Cowboy Cook

He was old as cowboys go, maybe forty or so.

aging, temperament, contentedness, cooking, danger

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

27

Bob Johnston

Old Joe

I called him "Joe" as a two-year-old.

horse, friendship, partner,

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

28

Bob Johnston

The Misplaced Buckaroo

I've known two places in my time.

Australia, Nevada, buckaroo, gear, customs, differences

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

30

Bob Johnston

Levi's Blue Denim

It first covered the legs of cowboys.

pants, trousers, clothing, gear, women, fashion

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

31

Bob Johnston

Agriculture, 1935-1985

Cattle prices are down they say.

economics, change, farming, hardship, foreclosure, finance, money

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

34

Bob Johnston

The Sea of Grass

We came out of the dust bowl.

environment, outdoors, dust, hardship, poverty, home

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

37

Bob Johnston

Rodeo Then and Now

You traveled by train or hitched hiked.

reminisce, changes, change, computers, riding,

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

39

Bob Johnston

The Finals

Nine thousand miles of highway.

rodeo, champion, riding, bronc

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

40

Bob Johnston

The Gathering

I was invited out to Elko.

poetry, travel, gear, competition, advice, clothing,

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

42

Bob Johnston

Heard on the Evening News

Everyone chastising the President.

Germans, Jews, killing, violence, mafia, terrorism

Rhymes of the Range Land

FC 11 J-04

43

Bob Johnston

The 30th of May 1985

The wind came up strong.

storm, wind, environment, hardship,