AN OLD COWBOY
67
By: Wayne Brown
From my warm campfire up here on the ridge
I see the car lights shining in the night so bold
Life is crowding close to our kind’s ragged edges
We’re a slowly dying, shrinking breed I am told
Once this cowboy life was the wide, open range
We rode its far horizons with some of the best
Now this progress crowds our little place in time
Calling for cowboys to move over and join the rest
That call is an empty one to my ol’ stubborn breed
It’s not what we want; not at all one that we heed
We stand on what we have; All that we have done
Yet aware progress will not stop until it has finally won
Starry skies on the open prairie night live in my heart
But only in dreams now in which I play only a small part
Dusty trail rides while punching northbound cattle herds
Reality once, memories now, etched now only in words
Progress is comin’ on fast; we cowboys have had our day
Change is comin’ so fast; a stampede headed our way
Turnin’ ranchland into towns; making trails into interstates
Soon there’ll be little left if it keeps movin’ at this rate
But I’m not one to let the cowboy life just go on by
I’m not for changin’; hell, I’m too damned old to try
Progress may be comin’ but I’ll not build it a bridge
I’ll just ride my pony a little higher up here on the ridge
When the cowboy life is finally done, I’ll be done too
That will be the point at which my life will be through
But until then I’ll just stay right here where I’m at
Lookin’ at the world from underneath this ol’ cowboy hat
©Copyright WBrown2012. All Rights Reserved.
2 February 2012
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Simply beautiful my cowboy poet. You touch a nerve here for all the cowboy's who still are out there riding the ridge and range. I tip my hat to all of them, I've seen a plenty as I drove my big rig through Oklahoma and Texas and I would pull over, light up my cigar, pause and watch them out on their range riding their ponies and pushing their herds along their way. Love it Wayne, you brought out the cowboy dreams in me with this piece.
Very nicely done Wayne. You can sure make those words flow.
the flow of words- beautiful!
the essence- charismatic!
hats off! man
beautifully written beautifully versed!
i am not from the land of cowboys! but surely i can connect! voted up! shared!
Wayne - Marvelous poetry as usual. We need to link up soon and down a couple of cold ones.
The Frog
Wow -- this one sparkles -- and so very true, Wayne. Looks you have the "touch" for cowboy poetry -- but then it takes one to write about one. Sure enjoyed this Hub. Best, Sis
Love this poem, great work. Voted up and awesome.
Progress may be comin’ but I’ll not build it a bridge - That's poetry friend.
Being a Cowboy has been a dream of mine since I was about five years old...so, I love this one. You have done a few along these lines, and I have loved them all.
There is something about the cowboy life that fascinates me.
Up and awesome.
Chris
Beautiful poem and cowboys will always be a special breed. Voted up.
I'm speechless this is wondeful.
@LABrashear...Thank you..so glad you enjoyed it! WB
@Vincent Moore...I was thinking of all those aging cowboys who still sit a good saddle and work a hard day when I wrote this. They see a different sunset than we do and I envy them for it. They lived a magic time of life. Thanks for the good comments and the good words of praise. WB
@marellen...I just write what's in my heart and the rest seems to fall into place. Thank you! WB
@rahul0324...Thank you! If I can create a mental image of a cowboy life for you with my words then that makes for superb compliment for me. I appreciate your kind words and so glad you liked it. WB
@The Frog Prince...Thanks much,Jim. I agree, we need to tip a couple. Barbara and I will be at Biraporetti's about 8PM tomorrow night if things go as plan. Stop by if you get the chance. WB
@Angela Blair...I sure do like them cowboys and the times that they lived. There is something magical about it all. Thanks much! WB
@writer20...Thanks so much. Glad you liked it! WB
@Kathleen Cochran...That's my favorite line in the poem as well along with the last two lines. Thanks much! WB
@CMerritt...I am right there with you, Chris. There is an abundance of material there for the writing...lots of imagery. Glad you enjoyed. WB
@Diana Lee...So very true, so true. Glad you enjoyed it! WB
@marywanders...Well, thank you. I am so glad I could have that effect with my words. WB
Voted up and beautiful. My husband is a cowboy at heart and once he actually got to ride in a wild buffalo roundup and even brand some of the herd. We both understand exactly what your words are saying and mourn the loss of a past that was free and beautiful. I'll be following your work, as you write what we feel. Thank you.
@TIMETRAVELER2...Thank you...glad I could create such imagery for you with my words. Look around, there are a number of cowboy type poems and stories here on my site that you will also like. WB
Most Excellent...Loved "An Old Cowboy"! The Old Cowboy is a breed destined to be blown away...like a swift prairie wind...while interstates get built over famous cattle trails...but the Old Cowboy will never change...(Why? because he's too damn old...that's a great point right there...I tell ya') yet... his spirit will live on and on!
I could almost hear Sam Elliot's voice narrating this. Best to ya', WB...and Thanks for noting through poet form...the ways of the Old Cowboy.
@manlypoetryman...Thank you as well for those great points!. There is still so much we could learn as a society from those old cowboys...things like hard work and work ethics; things about simple dreams of perserving a way of life and the honest aspects of it. I certainly would trade where we are now as a nation for it...in a heartbeat. All the best! WB
From their history on cattle drives to the now more confined ranching, these men were, and are, unsung heroes. I like the way your poem sings of their love and understanding of the land -- that which is so precious -- progress seeks to destroy. I wonder when people will fully comprehend that such progress is destroying who we are, and what truly supports us as human beings.
@Genna East...Great points, Genna. There is something really special about putting on a pair of gloves and stretching a strand of barb wire or getting a bit dirty while actually accomplishing something of value. Our society throws away this lifestyle along with that of the farmer like it has no present day value or meaning. These are our roots where we honed many of our rock solid values that unfortunately are no longer taught to our children. There is an honesty in it that one can seldom find anywhere else in the world. On that basis alone, it is well worth perserving in our society. Thanks much! WB
Love the poem and the American cowboy! Up, all the way.
@breakfastpop...Thanks, Poppy...cowboys are always a winner! WB
Wayne, through this poem of yours the life of a cowboy seems to have been heaven on earth... and yes I believe it was less complicated than the lives of our modern Tarzans and Janes living in concrete jungles, at least when he could manage to duck and dive crooks.
As always I enjoyed reading your work. Take care!
You are the Voice of the Cowboy, Wayne. No one ever said it better than you in this exceptional piece of poetry. I swear I could hear a rinky-tink piano belting out the rhythm of "I'm an Old Cowhand," in the background of a noisy trail saloon. Voted Up.
@MartieCoetser...I am sure that it was not all fun and games but it was honest work and required some good physical effort. We all sleep better after a good day's work. I hope that it never dies. Thanks much! WB
@drbj...Funny, Doc...I almost used that ol' song with this piece. Maybe Harry Reid will one day invite me to the Western Poets Reunion out in Nevada...I will go if I am assured that I will not be dealing with him! LOL! Thanks much! WB
I take my hate off Mr. Brown, thank you for the read, I enjoyed it very much. I enjoy being outside with my horse just listening to him, it's nice being out on the trail.
@Flickr...You get a bit of the cowboy life if you have a horse close by. Thanks for the good words! WB
AWESOME!!!! I loved every word, agreed with every word.
Three cheers for real cowboys. May they never die.
@Dim Flaxenwick....Thanks so much for those great words..I love it! WB
I love this, it captures the heart of what I feel when I get to go to our ranch in northern Idaho, quiet peaceful simpler forms of life. Maybe there's a cowgirl in me too! Up, interesting and beautiful. Oh and following of course!
Sample Gifts of Love...Thank you, so glad you enjoyed this one. Look around, I've got more! WB
Really nice, Wayne. I come from the era where most little boy heroes were cowboys, like Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry. I never got over it, and now I live in the Old West, where my wife’s relatives still ranch.
@WillStarr...I envy your proximity to the life, Will. There's an honesty there that keeps a man focused on what is right in life. Glad you like the verse. WB
A wonderful portrait of a cowboy's life and perspective on the environment. Enjoyed your hub.
@teaches12345...Kind of sad...time waits for no one and so it is for the cowboy. Thanks much. WB
LABrashear Level 6 Commenter 3 months ago
Loved this! You definitely captured the spirit and feelings of the American Cowboy. Voting up and sharing!