The Old Night Herder's Dance

(2nd part continued) Then late one night before coosie did howl, I woke up and took me a walk by chance, Down by the sleepin’ cow herd and ol’ Rowel When I heard his soft song and watched his dance. He was just waltzin’ alone off his mount, Like some ballroom dancer that was plum mad— Kept twirlin’ around more than I could count— It was all sort of comical yet sad. I crept away thinkin’ then I’d done wrong And climbed back in my bedroll on the range— But I could still hear that night hawker’s song And in my mind that lonely dance seemed strange. Summers last forever for a young buck, Yet somehow for me this one seemed too short— But I knew my fate had changed with my luck And that old chaff blew away in the sort. Then one day Rowel packed gear in a hurry— And I knew I’d heard his last herder’s song— Said he was headin’ home to Missouri— That he’d been at the ol’ dance much too long. Then Rowel said something I still remember About livin’ out your life as you age: He said savor sunsets in September, Because life’s a short sashay on the sage. So now night herds are silently sleepin’— And for years I’ve been here where I belong— The night herder’s song is in my keepin’ And I sing it as I dance to the song.