Mount Pisgah

At the foot uv Pikes Peak sprawls the old minin' town uv Cripple Creek.
They wuz nigh on fifty-thousand folks thar when minin' wuz at its peak!
Ol' Bob Womack, a cowpoke, struck gold in Poverty Gulch stakin' his claim.
'Tis said he sold out fer 500 bucks and a jug o' booze - whut a pitiful shame!

Others with more business acumen moved in and made millions off'n them hills!
Platoons uv gamblers, soiled doves and saloons wuz thar fer the miner's thrills!
They wuz even a few preachers and churches to tame them rowdy souls!
The Ladies Cultural Society strove to guide the rabble to reach more noble goals!

To the west, Mount Pisgah, bare and bleak, stood sentry over the raucous town,
Located thar is the cemetery containin' the bones uv some uv dubious renown!
But it must be said that thar is some decent souls sleepin' on that dreary hill.
Thar lonely graves are swept by the winter winds that shriek so bleak and chill!

Pearl DeVere is buried thar, 'madam' uv the classiest cribs in Cripple Creek!
She catered only to upscale gentlemen, those with clout, men uv wealthy clique!
The undertaker done her up right smart and the town turned out when she died.
They saw her off in style with a grand parade and finest hearse fer her final ride!

'Doc Susie' Anderson is also buried at Mount Pisgah and wuz the inspiration,
Fer "Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman" and is remembered with great admiration.
Saint and sinner, lawman and desperado lie side by side on that desolate hill.
Their lonely graves are swept by the winter winds that shriek so bleak and chill!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 7/16/2011 6:17:00 PM
Robert Service will be chomping on his corn cob in the ice floes, dragging that fella home. Mind me of old Service just a bit mate, an of course you are the master story teller. which counts 4 scalps with me:) Don NEED MORE COFFEE:)
Login to Reply
Date: 7/12/2011 7:44:00 PM
This is a fine epic type poem. Filled with history and a real wild west flavor. Nice job my friend. God Bless JB
Login to Reply
Date: 7/11/2011 8:40:00 AM
your artilerry of words are filled to the brim, robert... a powerful write! :) huggs, nette
Login to Reply
Date: 7/11/2011 6:52:00 AM
Bob H., nice... and this was a kombat to read.. But, still amazing... thanks,..p.d.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/10/2011 11:14:00 PM
an informative and livley scribe Robert, well put..
Login to Reply
Date: 7/10/2011 9:06:00 PM
I have been down to your part of the country many times, there is so much to see in Colorado, i have lived here 34 years and have not seen everything yet. you should be a spoke person for Colorado, with the things you write about, this one is very good. so folks you all come out to Colorado and see these things that Robert is writing about it is a beautiful state.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/10/2011 7:50:00 PM
Awesome tale, Sarge. Great read. Enjoyed. Best to you and Vera. Thanks for your kind words. Ralphie
Login to Reply
Date: 7/10/2011 7:19:00 PM
Love it. Very nice. Take care. Dana'lynn
Login to Reply
Date: 7/10/2011 7:11:00 PM
wow what a story in poetry Bob.. sort of reminds me of East of Eden at the end with the madam and Doc Susie ..one bad ..one good.... u sure can spin a yarn and make it so utterly interesting my friend...oh wow..
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter