Notes About The Poem

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The End of the Trail

Two weeks we'd been droving; and the end was now in sight
In the distance was Dodge City, we'd be there before night
I was on the trail with other cowboys from the Double Circle Ranch
And we were looking forward to the saloon, the notorious Long Branch.

We reached the railhead with the longhorns , just before sundown
Me and the other cowboys were itching, ready to hit town
The buyers were there waiting, hands were shook the deal done.
We were aware there would be lowlifes, so we all packed a gun.

First a shave then a hot bath to wash off the layers of dust
Then buy some new clothes and long johns, the latter a must
We then headed for the saloon and were ready for some rye
After two weeks on the trail our throats were kinda dry.

We walked through the bat wing doors, there were the usual stares
The good time girls were beckoning us, to follow them upstairs
We all asked for some whisky and some ordered hot foods
Then the young bucks went upstairs; to satisfy their lustful moods.

Old Jethro our foreman, the next day rode into town
And spent the best part of two hours tracking us all down
Bleary eyed and throbbing heads, no spoken words were said
And thoughts of that long ride home filled us with dread.

At the stables in a side street our horses were stood ready
We paid the stable boy and mounted, we all felt quite unsteady
We'd ride for nigh on two weeks crossing the great Texas plain
Get home round up more Longhorns and do it all again.




Written 20th January 2021 .
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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12
Rone Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 8:15 AM
Love "Cowboy". I look for it each day. I love to share with you my own.."Teanaway Valley" (a work in progress) for your examination.
Cunningham Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 9:37 AM
Thank you very much Ken, have written quite a few western themed poems. Tom
Hargreaves Avatar
February 11, 2021 at 1:11 PM
Hi Tom. A shave, a bath; wash off the dust. Then to the saloon for some rye. And good time girls beckoning. Mmm, a few whiskies; then the fun. But you come away with an empty wallet. Tony
Cunningham Avatar
February 11, 2021 at 2:10 PM
Thank you Tony, then round up a few more cows and do it all again, what a life Tom
Flood Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 11:18 AM
Quick revisit Tom. Congrats on your well deserved high placement... like what I predicted... yee haw! Terry
Cunningham Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 1:18 PM
Thank you very much for your return visit Terry, much appreciated. Hope your day is going well. Tom
Y. Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 7:41 AM
Hi Tom, I'm just coming back to say congrats on your win. Have a wonderful day:-) Alexis
Cunningham Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 8:29 AM
Thank you very much Alexis, and you too. Tom
Goldsmith Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 6:45 AM
Back to say, "Congratulations" on your win. A "Wonderful" story/write and picture. Enjoy your win/day with blessings as you write away.....................
Cunningham Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 8:29 AM
Thank you very much Paula, I hope you are well. Tom
Fowler Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 6:24 AM
Hi Tom. I love this write. I've seen a few cattle drives - nothing dirtier or dustier. But the pay was pretty good, for back then anyway. I guess that's why they did it all again. :) Congratulations on the win! Linda
Cunningham Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 6:30 AM
Thank you very much Linda, im happy you enjoyed it. Hope your day is going well. Tom
Proxenos Avatar
February 3, 2021 at 10:30 AM
Remember Bonanza and Cheyenne, (hope I've spelled the last one right.) They were my favorites. We lived in Zambia, but TV came to Zambia years before it came to South Africa. Loved your poem. Blessings Jennifer.
Cunningham Avatar
February 4, 2021 at 6:31 AM
Oh yeah, loved old JR, mean as a rattlesnake lol, and the spin off Knots Landing
Proxenos Avatar
February 3, 2021 at 10:39 AM
Yes, Rawhide I loved that series as well. Plain old cowboy films they were as popular - remember Dallas and Dynasty. Blessings, Jennifer.
Cunningham Avatar
February 3, 2021 at 10:32 AM
Thank you very much Jennifer, they don't make great westerns like they used to, loved bonanza and rawhide with a young Clint Eastwood. Hope alls well. Tom
Allison Avatar
February 2, 2021 at 10:51 AM
you are a natural storyteller tom, love it:-) good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx
Cunningham Avatar
February 2, 2021 at 11:12 AM
Thank you very much Jan, as you know I have a keen interest in the American old west, must have read every Louis L'Amour book and countless others. Tom
Goldsmith Avatar
February 1, 2021 at 9:32 AM
I have enjoyed reading your new writes. What a story/write this one is. You are a "Wonderful" story teller. Good luck in the contest. Have a blessed day/week...........
Cunningham Avatar
February 1, 2021 at 10:21 AM
Thank you very much Paula im pleased that you enjoyed it. I hope you are well. Tom
Horsman Avatar
January 31, 2021 at 8:10 PM
LOve this rambling tale. Tom. the flow and rhyme superb..
Cunningham Avatar
February 1, 2021 at 2:41 AM
Thank you very much for your return visit Harry, hope you are well. Tom
May Avatar
January 31, 2021 at 3:35 PM
Great cowboy poem Tom, GL in the Contest..
Cunningham Avatar
January 31, 2021 at 4:28 PM
Thank you very much Joseph. I'm happy you liked it. Tom
Roper Avatar
January 31, 2021 at 10:33 AM
Great story, Tom. Enjoyed reading, good luck in the contest. Hugs Eve
Cunningham Avatar
January 31, 2021 at 11:37 AM
Thank you very much Eve, im pleased that you enjoyed it. Tom
Lamoureux Avatar
January 30, 2021 at 3:46 PM
You are such a good story teller Tom. I thoroughly enjoyed your tale. Thanks for your Visit Tom.
Cunningham Avatar
January 30, 2021 at 4:19 PM
Thank you very much Richard, you're welcome, im happy you enjoyed it. Tom
Sands Avatar
January 30, 2021 at 11:10 AM
Great one Tom. You brought me right there with your story! I hope all is well :)
Cunningham Avatar
January 30, 2021 at 12:29 PM
Thank you very much Heidi, I'm happy you enjoyed it, I'm well and I hope that you are too. Tom
Devonshire Avatar
January 29, 2021 at 12:02 PM
What a great story you told in your poem, Tom. I heard cowboys and fishermen have the most strenuous jobs and your poem confirms that. Still, I think I would have liked this type of life. Best wishes for a big win in the contest, my friend! Hugs, Carolyn
Cunningham Avatar
January 29, 2021 at 12:53 PM
Thank you very much Carolyn, im happy you enjoyed it. I hope you are well. Tom
Dietrich Avatar
January 28, 2021 at 10:55 AM
I'm still betting on this being a top winner!
Cunningham Avatar
January 28, 2021 at 12:32 PM
Thank you very much Andrea for your return visit, been reading some great entries for this one, yours included, Tom
Downing  Avatar
January 27, 2021 at 5:48 PM
What a great story, Tom...
Cunningham Avatar
January 27, 2021 at 5:59 PM
Thank you very much Akkina, im pleased that you enjoyed it. Tom
Theraven Avatar
January 26, 2021 at 8:47 PM
Tom, Love this story and saucy characters of the days on a cattle drive. Mesmerized in the moment and enjoyed it to the end 'Of The Trail' Tom. So well written it flowed along the page, hot food and all. -Richard
Cunningham Avatar
January 27, 2021 at 2:08 AM
Thank you very much Richard, I've always loved tales of the old west and it has influenced many cowboy poems I've written. Tom
Jayasankar Avatar
January 25, 2021 at 7:38 AM
Enjoyed reading this cowboy story from beginning to end Tom. Best wishes for the contest. God bless. ~ Ani
Cunningham Avatar
January 25, 2021 at 8:10 AM
Thank you very much Ani, I'm happy you it I hope you havda lovely week. Tom
De Beaulieu Avatar
January 25, 2021 at 7:14 AM
Hello Tom, I am also a fan of the wild west.I watched a lot of cowboys movies in the past. Enjoyed everyone of them. I have enjoyed this poem. enjoy your day my friend,
De Beaulieu Avatar
January 25, 2021 at 9:50 AM
Hello tom, Ihave always enjoyed a western movie. I use to watch them with my Godfather. He passed a long time ago. i miss him. Enjoy your day my friend.
Cunningham Avatar
January 25, 2021 at 7:30 AM
Thank you very much Darlene, Ive always loved movies, books and the historical books on the subject. Tom
Eslinger Avatar
January 24, 2021 at 10:21 AM
Nice to meet you,Tom, This poem and its storycaptivated me. Carried me right along with all my senses involved. Thank you.
Cunningham Avatar
January 25, 2021 at 1:05 AM
And you too Sally, I'm happy you enjoyed it, as you've probably guessed Im a big fan of the old wild west. Tom
Horsman Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 7:44 PM
Wonderful folk lore poetry, Tom, there's a song or two in there as well. Love it.
Cunningham Avatar
January 23, 2021 at 1:46 AM
Thank you very much Harry, im happy you enjoyed it. Tom
Flood Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 3:07 PM
Great story, Tom. Almost like someone narrating a classic old western. I’m sure this will place high in the contest. Congrats in advance. Terry
Cunningham Avatar
January 23, 2021 at 1:46 AM
Thank you very much Terry, and for the vote of confidence, but I've seen some great entries. Enjoy your weekend Tom
Ball Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 2:24 PM
The expression and imagery here are great Tom. I could see it all play out before my eyes. Good Stuff. God Bless, JB
Cunningham Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 2:34 PM
Thank you very much Judy, im glad you enjoyed it, hope you have a lovely weekend. Tom
Mcconnell Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 1:37 PM
Great old cowboy tale Tom, really brings the memories back of loads of cowboy programmes on TV in the 60s. Super pen this is no doubt. Blessings, Gordon
Cunningham Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 2:17 PM
Thank you very much Gordon, ive always enjoyed tales of the old west and grew up watching zorro, gunsmoke and rawhide, happy days, hope you are well. Tom
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