FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

FC 11 G-31

24

D. W. Groethe

A Prickly Time Out

Dropping down, Workin' the bottom strand of a four wire

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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25

D. W. Groethe

Them Four Wheel Steeds

There's a lot that's been said, the last little while, 'Bout ridin' them four wheel steeds.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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27

D. W. Groethe

The Bunny Poem

Drivin' through the midnight hour Clippin' down the trail, We was headin' back from Utah on the last leg of't tale.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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29

D. W. Groethe

When Hell Comes Knockin'

The sun had been down for an hour or more

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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31

D. W. Groethe

Midnight, Somewheres in August

I have camped out on this prairie a thousand summer nights.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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32

D. W. Groethe

There's a Silence

There's a silence that's found as a hoof hits the ground.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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33

D. W. Groethe

The Point (The whole point and nothin' but the point)

Open the gate close the gate simple and conclusive

West River Waltz: Western Poetry West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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34

D. W. Groethe

Some Things Look Better Just Left Where They Are

I busted my axle for thirty-odd year and for thirty odd-more I been sittin' out here

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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35

D. W. Groethe

The Funeral

A local old timer had quietly passed on

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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36

D. W. Groethe

And From This Hill: A Requiem

And from this hill you can see forever

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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37

D. W. Groethe

At The Timmer Bar

"Burnin' daylight!" boss cowman said.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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39

D. W. Groethe

Bent

To the wind.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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40

D. W. Groethe

There's Life in the Ol' Dog Yet

There's a little more gray in my hair today

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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41

D. W. Groethe

Likely, When That Sun Creeps Up

Likely, when that sun creeps up and o'er the sandstone ledge

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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42

D. W. Groethe

Same Old Story

Meadowlarks are bunchin' up

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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43

D. W. Groethe

Under the Dim and Nodding Sky

Under the dim and nodding sky 'mid the nighthawk's fading sky,

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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44

D. W. Groethe

When the Old Man Goes (A poem for two voices)

And the earth thrummed.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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46

D. W. Groethe

Let Me Tell You 'Bout Weanin'

Let me tell you 'bout weanin' and' the severin' of ties

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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47

D. W. Groethe

East Wind-December 4th

Whoa, how she howls, shrieks and then yowls,

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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48

D. W. Groethe

She Wore Her Twilight Well

She wore her twilight well like a flowing robe

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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49

D. W. Groethe

And Now as My Day Settles

And now as my day settles deep in itself shrugging shadows and yawning a hitch of a breeze

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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50

D. W. Groethe

The Novice

It haunts and it hangs on o'er the heights

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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51

D. W. Groethe

An Act of Confusion

Coyote came worryin' to my door one night.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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53

D. W. Groethe

Coyote's Annual Christmas Howl

The call was out all o'er the land.

West River Waltz: Western Poetry

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54

D. W. Groethe

Winter 1903

There lies Dakota bleak bitter cold.