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Death of the Old Cowboy On the Lonesome Range

Death Of The Old Cowboy On The Lonesome Range

Ravenous wolf pack, ripping and tearing
red-stain bloody meat from his dead horse flank
much better the dead horse than me he thought
as he looked up at hot sun glaring.

Dreaming now, his beautiful gal holding tight
aching head laid in her luxurious lap
mused what sorry cowboy sight this is
an old cowboy sho gonna die tonight.

Then waking again, he was fine alright
that June morn was sure so fine to behold
again that pretty gal rushed to him
saying, dear cowboy ain't you such good sight.

Sleep, a gentler sleep all he would need.
Asleep he fell and then to death he bleeds.

Robert J. Lindley, sonnet
April 2nd, 1971

Note- This has been written after my watching
the cowboy save the pretty girl, but then he died
from fighting of Apache braves for two days.
His guns empty, his heart and dreams took over
to ease him beyond the deep purple veil.

Copyright © Robert Lindley | Year Posted 2023

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Ink Empress Date: 8/17/2023 7:48:00 PM Im loving the storytelling in this sonnet and the rhymes they flow so well the opening lines are so captivating and i must say i felt the lines “ sleep all he would need” so creative Login to Reply Robert Lindley Date: 8/18/2023 4:47:00 AM Thank you, my friend. I wrote this at the age of 17 , in 1971. My literature teacher said it was a true masterpiece and she herself was a truly fine poet. With her encouragement I delved on into poetry and am still writing 52 years later. God bless you.. and thanks again.

Bill Baker Date: 8/17/2023 4:36:00 PM A fine cowboy sonnet, my dear friend. Thanks for sharing some poetry from the good ol' days. A poet friend in Texas, Bill Login to Reply Robert Lindley Date: 8/17/2023 5:42:00 PM Thank you, my good friend. This was composed when I WAS JUST 17 YEARS OLD. I HAVE CAME LONG WAY ON MY POETRY JOURNEY SINCE THEN. God bless you...