Juan Ramos, Cowboy Camp Cook

The fall roundup, Old Brown Ranch in 1976 Sat below Cathedral Peak, Calamity Creek was running slow A mule deer behind almost every cedar tree Old Juan was getting ready for his day of tricks It was early in the morning, he wanted everyone to know Pots and pans clanging, it was even three Oak wood camp fire, coffee was about to boil Good chill in the air, frost everywhere Juan was making his dough for camp bread Fed the cowboys like they were royal Best eating I ever had, I swear Always wore a long red apron, silver belly hat on his head His menu was always the same, beans, taters and steak Didn't speak English or Spanish, he mumbled and grumbled Always was in a good mood, except when he was mad Cowboys never complained, even if he made a mistake Cowboyed all his life, until that old pony stumbled Then took to cookin, the wreck messed up his leg pretty bad He was the chef in his outside cowboy eatery, top of the line If you were expecting fancy, Juan was not formal In a Dutch Oven, he could make one fine cherry cobbler Juan did like a bit of that old wine Guess that was his way of trying to be normal Juan Ramos, helluva a camp cook, if you could keep him sober