First Morning Cup

In that grey, quiet space between night & dawn While the coyote sings a good morning song A cowboy rides up to a spot high on the hill to reflect on his blessings & the bounty of good will For a hot cup of coffee & warm meals to eat For the shade of a broad brim hat & the sturdy boots on his feet For the comfort in the silence just before the rooster crows Just why he was chosen to be this lucky, only the Creator knows For this good horse between his knees, sure & steady at a lope for those fat & sassy cattle & true aim when he ropes For all his compadres just now stirring for the day Each one of them in your likeness, so the preachers say For living each & every day as Cowboy as he can For unexpected kindness & the basic goodness of a man The keening of the hawk draws his gaze up toward the sky And he says another prayer for those who ride in the By & By Yes, there are surely enough reasons to grump, cuss or shout But taking stock of all your blessings is what that first morning cup is all about So thank you once again sir, for giving us this life May you ride along beside us, in good times & in strife Amen