FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Rhymes of the Ranges

FC 11 K-04

128

Bruce Kiskaddon

The Bundle Stiff

Can you feature a man with no home and no neighbors.

work, bundle stiff, wander

Rhymes of the Ranges

FC 11 K-04

130

Bruce Kiskaddon

The Homesteader

The homesteader landed with all of his tools.

homesteader, home, poverty, work

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

5

Andy Wilkinson

All That Cities Have Forgot

Don't go looking for that river; Where Charlie Goodnight stood and watched.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

6

Andy Wilkinson

I Come for the River

Southwest of the Plaza, in downtown Dallas, By the railroad tracks on the triple underpass.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

7

Andy Wilkinson

A Sadly-Scripted Part

Young Goodnight was the Ranger scout; Who'd cut the sign before the rout.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

9

Andy Wilkinson

White Woman's Clothes

In the moon you call December, On the river you call the Pease.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

11

Andy Wilkinson

Of Men of Vision

The Goodnight-Loving Trail was tough, The risks were great, the going rough.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

12

Andy Wilkinson

Crossing the Pecos

We rounded up our longhorn beeves, Fat and pretty, as you please.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

14

Andy Wilkinson

The Pecos, From Castle Gap

The river, seen from a distance, is not; A river, just the shadow of the blueprint.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

15

Andy Wilkinson

An Eye on the Boss

From the Cross Timbers down through the Buffalo Gap, 'Round Chadbourne and over the Concho.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

18

Andy Wilkinson

Song for Molly, Mary Ann

Can a man love a woman without singin' a song, Love her with an ordinary heart?

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

19

Andy Wilkinson

Charles Goodnight First Looking Into Palo Duro Canyon

He ran him the last mile, then pulled up short; Of the brittle rim, loosed the reins and eased.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

20

Andy Wilkinson

Power in the Wind

It was cold in the Palo Duro; In the winter of seventy-eight.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

22

Andy Wilkinson

Horseback on the Ilano Estacado

The wind is the oldest river, rhythmic, Unceasing, infinite, the pulse of God.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

23

Andy Wilkinson

A Woman's Life

The wind blows day and night through the canyon, Never stopping at the door.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

24

Andy Wilkinson

Driving at Night on the Plains

Driving at night on the Plains is a dream, A dream in glitter and black gasoline.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

25

Andy Wilkinson

Standing Deer's Lament

Mi compadre, Buenas Noches, Goodnight, my old friend.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

26

Andy Wilkinson

A Kingdom of the Cowboy Tribe

It is a legendary ranch; Within a legendary place.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

27

Andy Wilkinson

Palo Duro Farewell

I've sold out, and it's time for leavin', Cleaned out my desk, and it's all packed away.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

28

Andy Wilkinson

Put Your Kodak Up!

"He's important!" my mother'd say, Pat my head and shoo me away.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

29

Andy Wilkinson

The Last Buffalo Hunt

I's goin' on thirteen, in nineteen-and-sixteen, A new world replacin' the old.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

31

Andy Wilkinson

Haley Taking Notes

The Old Man's arm in circles spun; As if his stories, once begun.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

32

Andy Wilkinson

Voice from the Grave

My Christian name is William, You can call me One-Armed Bill.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

34

Andy Wilkinson

Like Most Men Breathed

Goodnight was not the kind of man to stand; Back in the crowd.

Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry & Song

FC 11 G-24

36

Andy Wilkinson

I Want My Coffee Back

I'm tired of winter Arizona, The people here are too damn old.