The Cowboy Life I Love

I squint my eyes from the glaring sun As I drive cattle across the open range. I am the youngest hand, so I ride drag Covered by the dust stirred into the wind. This is the life I have chosen To hear the steady creaking of my saddle The songs of the cowboys as they lead the herd The lowing cattle as they smell water. This is the life I live To see the endless stretches of prairie The hens and rabbits scuttling away The ponderous beasts flowing in a living stream. This is the life I love Watching the horses graze peacefully at night The cattle milling about during my night ride My horse's gentle breathing as I circle them. May this be my lot while here I remain May I drink from the freely flowing streams And breathe the pairie air until I die. Whether life be short or long May I ever onward toil, and be content With the satisfaction of honest work With the steady pounding of hooves Biscuits and chili by a wavering fire And sleeping under the sky on the open range.