There's Something

There's something that i left behind

What is it I just don't know?

Maybe the Indian Heavens Mountain

Trimmed with foot or two of snow

Could e the Lower Falls creek

The Race Track, or the Belts

There's something that i left behind

A strange feelin' i can't help

Maybe that big bull Elk?

That i spotted on the breaks.

Could be that big Ol' setting' sun

The one shining' off the lake

Maybe that aged old cowboy

And the nite we talked for hours

Can't put my finger on it

Even though I've scoured and scoured

I feel as though I've left behind

Somethin' that's worth a lot

I wish i knew just what it is

Or just what i've forgotten

But for now I'll have to ponder

Think a back a day or two

Back to those times I enjoyed myself

Beneath a sky of blue

It somehow has got the best of me

Not knowin' what it is

I somehow can't remember

In my mind I can't relive

Maybe the friendly folks i met

Could be the Hunter's wave

Maybe that never ending road

Could be the rocks and sage

But when I think back to what it is

All i see are pretty hill

The only thoughts that come 'cross my mind

Is the beauty this landfill?

The wind that waves through a field of wild flowers

The mountains just above

The deer that pepper the landscape

This land I truly love

The rolling mountains

As far as I can see

The colors of this rugged mass

Takes my breath away from me

so it will have to say a mystery

These unsolved thoughts I find

Until I'm back in Ol Carson

maybe then it will come to mind

The Hoolihan

To rope a steer by head or heal

Ain't really that tough

An' Snarin' calves ain't no big deal

If you've done it long enough;

But there's a loop the cowboys know

That I can't understand-

That cayuse-snaggin' noose they thro

That's called the Hoolihan

It's a quiet an' a gentle loop

That's thrown from way down low;

No whirlin' swing or screamin' whoop

Accompanies this throw

It's like Poetry in motion

A thing of beauty as it flies

But I can't find combination

Regardless how I try

Now, I throw a loop with my left hand;

An' practice though I might

When friends show me the Hoolihan

They throw it with their right

They demonstrate artistic line-

It's simple, smooth, an' neat-

Then I'll try, an' soon my twine

Is piled up at my feet

I've practiced 'till my arm is sore

But that throw's beyond my scope

The dogs don't even run no more

When they see with my rope

To make a hand's my fondest dream

But if I may be candid.

That Hoolihan ain't in my scheme-

It can't be thrown left-handed.

Life of Rodeo

Rodeo, is the playing of the national anthem

With the wind furling Old Glory for all to see

And Rodeo is the invocation where

All bow their heads and ask

God, to look after both

Brave entrants, and the noble spectators,

Rodeo, is and announced who starts the show

By saying "And now Ladies and Gentleman turn your 

attention to the Bucking Chutes!

Getting down in the chute No1 an old cayuse

We call Trail's End is....

Rodeo, is a cowboy cramming his hat 

Down on his head,climbin aboard his

Bareback horse grabbing the "Suitcase Handle"

And hollering, "Let Me Have Him!"

Rodeo is the eternity between coming out

of the chute and hearing the whistle blow

Rodeo is the goose egg you get for not 

Marking him out

Rodeo, is yer new hat that gets trampled

And the pickup men who save yer neck

It's the indescribable feeling you get when 

You ride a rank mount to the whistle

Rodeo is funny clowns insulting the announcer

and conversely the announcer insulting the clowns.

Rodeo, is the dirt eaten' by the dogger

Whose steer "set -up"

It's the fast stop of the lightly trained 

ropin' horse

And the hole in the rope that the last

Calf managed to run through

Rodeo is the time keepers diligently cutting seconds

into tenths.

Rodeo, is trick and fancy roping fascinating

Spectators and cowboys alike

Rodeo is also beautiful Cowgirls in lavish

Outfits riding fast well trained horses

in the barrel race.

It's cowboy's running helter-skelter for the

Safety of the fence when a bronc

heads their way

Rodeo, is a brave photographer, standing in front

of the chutes taking pictures of the bull riding

Rodeo is the same photographer seeking the save sanction 

the chute gate with an enraged

Bull a bare three feet behind

It's the cowbell attached to the bull rope

That keeps the cowboy awake when he rides

Rodeo is Ten calves, and Forty cowboys tumbling

Together in the kiddies calf scramble

Rodeo is an over-anxious roper who breaks 

the barrier

It's also the chaw of tobacco you swallowed

During hectic ride or the bandage

You must wear on that trick knee

Rodeo is the trick and fancy riders at

Their very best and rodeo is the is the thoughts

Of taking yer best girls to the big dance

After the show

Rodeo is a limping cowboys returning to the chutes

with nothing to show for his efforts

But  the crowd's applause and empty wallet

And few bruises

Rodeo is a hard-working chute boss

And his wife's consternation when she 

Spots a rip in his brand new shirt

Rodeo is the clown sneaking up behind

the photographer and shouting "look 

OUT for the bull!"

Rodeo is a steer that falls the wrong way

And it's your piggin' string liberally sprinkled

with pepper when your back was turned

Rodeo is the admiring, worshiping look

from the youngsters in the stands

Rodeo is a wife nervously biting her nails

while her husbands rides a bull

Rodeo is a husband encouragement as his wife 

competes in the barrel race

It's the entry fees which must be paid 

And the long miles you must travel

Yes, rodeo is horses, bulls, saddles

Clowns announcers, spectators 

Calves, chutes, pickup men

Steers cowbells, boots flags

Cowgirls and Cowboys

Last but not least, 

Rodeo is Fun

The American Cowboy

There's a certain attitude or code

If you will of the Ranchers, Westerner

Or American Cowboy,

better still its not that hat, boots, or spurs

so much

That gives these Americans the 

Cowboy touch

First and foremost, Always keep your word

Your words is your bound I've always heard

There are people that depend on you

to do what you say

Sometimes it's not convenient but it's the

American Cowboy way

Words like Honest, Integrity, Courage

and Grit

Are as natural as breathing, much like 

taking a bit

Helping out a neighbor you've found has 

A need

Excepting nothing in return fine

Qualities indeed

This truely is the American Cowboy

For many, I've known

Seem cast from the same mold

American Hewn

No, it's not so much the clothes they wear

Simply put it's a way of life

A breed so Rare.

Determination

Sometimes we sit and dream

About the things we would die to do

Now if you look into your heart

You will see your dreams can come true

So you say you will try

And will probably fall

But your dream will still live

So get up and stand tall

to see your inspiration

But look no further than your self

To find determination.

Rodeo

RODEO  you're part of America

The outdoor dream that every

Youngster need

And if I could have one wish

My only Prayer would be 

Don't let the COWBOY be a dieing breed.

Old Saying

There's an old saying

Cowboys life poor

And die Rich

I am more inclined to think it's the

Cowboy's definition of

Wealth that makes him

What he is

I don't suppose you could call

Cowboyin' a career

The pay's not great

There's no pension plan

No unions, No benefits

And noe early retirement is out of the 

Question

So why do they do it?

Because they LOVE IT!

Night Time Country Sounds

When the evening starts to darken

And the Moon begins to rise

With it golden huge a rippling

Across the cloudless skies

It's then I enjoy sitting

on the old veranda here

As I listen to the night sounds

That echo far and near

I hear a barking dog somewhere;

An owl calls from a tree

On yonder hill a whippoorwill

Sings so melodiously

Down back amidst the darkened woods

on banks of country ponds

I hear a bullfrog chanting

his loud bass fiddle song

When summer evening darkens

And the golden moon appears

When the daytime sounds are silenced

On our old farm house veranda

Where the roses sweet abound

It is then i paused and listen

to the nighttime country sounds.

Being A Cowboy

Many people I meet

Don't seem to understand

Why a person in their senses

Would want to be a cowhand

It's hard to explain in words

The deeper reason why

But I feel brave today

So I'll give it a try

It has to do with nature

The good and also bad

The challenges of elements

Th happy mood and sad

Money isn't the object

Though all must make a'living

The animals aren't a dollar bill

When help to them you're going

Many a cowboy mean and tough

When seeing a snowbound calf

Melts and turns their hard heart to butter

To act on it's behalf

It has to do with horses

 A very common affection

Not just a passing fancy

More like a drug addiction

A natural love for horse's

To ride and bein' a saddle

Just leads a person by the hand

To want to be with cattle

It has to do with living

And doing what you please

Concerning occupation choice

One's mind is all at ease

Competing isn't the issue

When riding on the range

Don't the job for the love of it

To some this all sounds strange.

It has to do with trying

With a dream awry and game

If you've Never been Bucked OFF

Means you've Never Gotten ON!

I guess it was the other day

My only day off of the week 

I should've stayed indoors

And quite there to seek

But it was nice and warm that day

So something I couldn't hide

Was that feeling

Ol' Mouse I needed to ride

So then I just decided

As long as I was doing this now

I might as well help the neighbor

And put Mouse behind a cow 

So to some it's all the mystery

But I've very Clear to me 

If I wasn't cowboying for living

I'd still cowboy for free.

Excuses, Excuses

Well, I woulda been

Coulda been

Shoulda been 

On that calf just under eight-

I missed his flank  fumbled my tie

I know I got out late

Oh, I woulda been

Coulda been

Shoulda been

Scorin' at least 80 on that bare-

I know one judge didn't like me-

'Cause he didn't score me fair.

Gee, I woulda been

Coulda been 

Shoulda been

Just about 16" 'round those cans-

But my horse ducked off

Then knocked one down

He's scared of the screamin' Fans

Oh, I woulda been

Coulda been 

Shoulda been

At least placin' on that steer

Reached too far and missed his horns

And landed on my rear

Well, we woulda been

Coulda been 

Shoulda been

The team they couldn't beat-

I roped the horns , I did my job-

But Stupid missed the feet

Oh I woulda been

Coulda been

Shoulda been

The bull ride of the night

Got hung up, hooked by them horns

Then he reached up and took a bite

We all would've been

Coulda been , Shoulda been

All winners on this night

Better head off to the practice pen

So next time we can get it right.