The Waxed Coat Man

In crackled tintypes bent with long ago, Amid flaxen sunset and skies of cherry— In worn leather-carved ancient scenario, He dare not lie in milkweed prairie. He rides resolute toward that sweat-tinged fame, Always the heart’s hero of our once young eye, As pale ivory range sighs softly his name And we all know the real reason why. It is high sage country that he will ride, As that tin sun burns alabaster away— And new birthed rains roll off his cow rancher hide, So his soft summer’s mirage will stay. Some see him crude – of but limited worth— Lacking pure knowledge or certain savoir-faire— But born of bone plain, he is of no fool’s birth— A force of nature that’s always there. From coat’s patina past years slide, of course, As lines are spurred so deep into his Sphinx face— But he’d rather be poised high atop his horse In no other country, time or place. His heritage is long – it’s here he’ll die— He rides his own land in cruel spring rains and snows— And like that wax jacket, he’ll keep his hopes dry, Because ranching is all that he knows.