Chow Time On the Range

"Rise an' shine you lazy cowpokes! Time to saddle up yer hoss! Time to move them moo-cows to summer range!" yelled th' trail boss! "You've lolled around here all winter, now it's time to earn yer pay! Jump in yer jeans, pull on them boots an' let's git 'er underway!" All winter long they'd grown fat in th' bunkhouse eatin' Cooky's fare, But knowin' that on that long, dusty trail, grub could be mighty spare! How they'd long fer good ol' gut-fillin' grub as they wuz mendin' fences, An' roundin' up them wily dogies roamin' over God's vast expanses! Come supper time th' cowpunchers would lounge about a blazin' far, Smokin' roll-yer-owns, chewin' th' fat an' nursin' cuts frum bobbed war! Thankin' th' Lord fer their grub, Cooky yelled, "Come an' git 'er fellers! Ain't much, but me an' my ol' Dutch oven done purty good!" he bellers! Th' menu never varied but they knew better'n to complain about his cuisine, Er Cooky could be as grumpy as a rattlesnake er a disgruntled wolverine! Ever' supper consisted uv th' same ol' thing - a classic case uv deja vu: Beans, spuds, bacon, sour dough biscuits an' a dollop uv mystery stew! Frum across th' valley a harmonica's melancholy tune wuz heard, As th' night guard kept a wary vigil an' soothed th' restless herd. Th' cowpokes dreamt uv a hearty breakfast but they already knew, It'd be beans, spuds, bacon, sour dough biscuits an' a dollop uv mystery stew! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved