Cowboy Philosopher

An old cowpoke throwed his leg over the well-worn saddle horn, And tilted back his ten-gallon hat that was sweat-stained and worn. From his shirt pocket he took a Bull Durham tobacco pouch, And with one hand made a roll-yer-own - at that he was no slouch! "Son", he drawled, "I'd be much obliged if'n you'd lend me yer ears, Whilst my hoss old Dan an' me take a break frum brandin' them steers. You see, I've spent nigh on fifty years ropin' dogies an' fixin' fences, Ridin' ever' day in rain, snow an' dust over these wild expanses!" "I ain't never gonna git rich workin' fer fifty bucks a month an' chuck, But I'm a helluva lot happier than them city fellers a-chasin' th' buck! They jes' sits at their desks starin' at a computer screen ever' day. I gits to see them mountains ever' day yonder across th' way!" "Cowboyin' is hard an' dirty work an' I shore ain't in it fer th' pay! I live in a rustic bunkhouse with six other fellers when I hits th' hay! Durin' lightnin' an' thunderstorms I've had to calm th' restless herd, An' I've drove 'em through ragin' blizzards 'til my eyes wuz blurred!" "Well, I reckon I'd better git back to work a-fore th' boss gits on my back. He's a purty square shooter but don't cut me a great deal uv slack!" With that the weathered cowpoke said, "Giddy up!", gave the reins a jerk, And the old cowboy and his faithful hoss Dan trotted back to work! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved Placed No. 1 in Tirzah Conway's "A Cowboy Is" Contest - March 2011