Plea of the Prairie Wife

As a faithful mate she'd followed
When he vowed to tame the West.
There her life had not been easy.
She had done her very best.

Though the loneliness was endless
When he led the nomad life
Of a cattle trailing cowboy,
She was still his patient wife.

Far from genteel East and doctors,
She had just ignored the pain.
He found this short note beside her
When he came back home again.

Lay me not in mausoleum
Entombed in an airless cave.
Bury me upon the prairie
Let a field stone mark my grave.

I was never much for grandeur,
Simple ginghams mine to wear.
Dress me not in silks and satins
Just to see me lying there.

Bury me upon the prairie,
Which so long has been my home.
Bury me among the wildflowers
Where so often I would roam.

Until wakened for the judgement
By the trumpets up above,
Let me lie in sweet surrender
To the West I've learned to love.

Won 6th place in Cowboy poetry contest


For Deborah's Cowboy contest.  Won 6th place
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Cwiak Avatar
May 22, 2010 at 6:21 AM
Very poignant and beautifully written. Congrats on the win! Dan C
Freeman Avatar
May 21, 2010 at 7:59 PM
Congratulations Joyce on your success in Deb's contest. Agape, Moses
Brown Avatar
May 21, 2010 at 4:23 AM
Congratulations on your win in Deborah's contest "Giddy Up" Joyce. Love, Carol
Washam Avatar
May 20, 2010 at 7:13 PM
Great write Joyce, congratulations in Deborah's contest. Take care and Have fun. Steve
Fraser Avatar
May 20, 2010 at 8:49 AM
Joyce, many congratulations on your win in Deborah's contest >> James
Delacroix Avatar
May 2, 2010 at 9:35 PM
Awesome write, Joyce, very moving and although sad, it is a great tale of the pioneering spirit of the West. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes, Caroline.
Gorelick Avatar
May 2, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Oh my gosh, this is a winner for sure. It brought a tear..those days must have been so rough. BG
Richards Avatar
May 2, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Oh this is so sad, Joyce. Like an old song, that may be sung around a campfire. Well done...good luck in the contest! ~ Love, Carrie
Flach Avatar
May 2, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Terrific poem Joyce!!! Love the story, the structure and the rhyme. A tear comes to this Cowboy's eye.
Mehta Avatar
May 2, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Sorry I mean good luck in the contest
Mehta Avatar
May 2, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Good lick in the contest
A   Avatar
May 2, 2010 at 5:39 PM
well done, have a nice one, good luck in the contest,..p.d.
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