Charles Messina Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Tom and the Duke

John Wayne, once said... 
"Well, I can do it, but I don't know about my horse" 
Well, if anyone can do it... 
It would be "The Duke", of course 

Until one late evening, with the sky half blue 
Clouds of orange, deep purplish...too! 
When another cowboy went along with the ride 
Said, "I can do it too, but with my horse by my side 

Duke, thought for a minute, then he said
"Cowboy, what's your name, son" 
The cowboy replied- 
"Tom Cunningham- And I can handle a gun" 

So, the Duke thought again...
And with his patch on his eye 
He said, "Okay, Tom Cunningham... 
But watch out for the cacti" 

So, they rode while the sunset 
Till it rose early morn 
Then, they rested 'neath the cacti 
Man-handling the thorn 

They both proved they can do it...
And they did it, no doubt 
They got a butt full of cacti 
And they let out a........SHOUT!    


Dedicated to Tom Cunningham

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Jennifer Proxenos January 8, 2022 at 10:51 PM Hi Charles, congratulations for being honored with POTD - A great cowboy write, and the stars of it John Wayne and Tom Cunningham, Tom must have been chuffed, though he landed in a prickly situation! The best of everything I hope comes your way this year my friend, and further congratulations for your having being selected for Poetry Soups newest Anthology "It's Still Poetry". Hugs and blessings, jennifer. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Lindsay Laurie January 7, 2022 at 6:34 PM G'day Charles ... Tom will be chuffed being side-kick to John Wayne. Playing with cacti offers a prickly situation - thanks Charles - Lindsay

Joseph May January 5, 2022 at 8:54 PM Congrats on POTD with this tribute to Tom Charles Messina January 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM Thank you, Joseph. Happy New Year!

Brandy Nicole January 5, 2022 at 6:41 PM That's what Cowboys do, right ? Smile so big, carry a gun, and ride that horse - tall and proud. :) Always on the look out for *Cacti*. Or not.. in this case. Ouch ! This is so cute and clever. I love everything about what you have created here. A fun dedication to Tom. Congratulations Charlie, on Poem of the Day. :) Hugs, Brandy Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM That's right, Brandy. That's what cowboys do (lol). Thank you so much! Happy New Year! Hugs, Charlie

Eve Roper January 5, 2022 at 5:43 PM Oh, Tom, had a great big part. Love it Charles. Congratulations on POTD. :) Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM Thank you, Eve. Happy New Year! Hugs :)

Ken Rone January 5, 2022 at 3:17 PM The Tom Cunningham cameo blew me away. Crept up on me like a scorpion crawling across the cement floor toward the trouble light. Shch fun to read this Charles. Starting out I thought it was going to be a Frankie Lee/ Judas Priest piece. Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 4:33 PM LOL, Ken. I see where you were going with that F.L./J.P. theory. Thanks for the awesome comment.

Jenna Logan January 5, 2022 at 2:33 PM You two cowboys can giddy up on my range anytime. Great write and congratulations on potd, Charlie! Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 4:34 PM Hi yo Silver...away! (lol) Thank you, Jenna!

Debra L Brown January 5, 2022 at 2:08 PM Congratulations on POTD! I enjoyed the poem ~ Debra Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 4:35 PM Thank you, Debra! Glad you enjoyed!

P.S. Awtry January 5, 2022 at 12:42 PM This is a cute story! A little painful in the end ;) Congrats on your POTD honor ~ps Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 4:37 PM LOL, indeed, painful. Thank you, P.S.

Jan Allison January 5, 2022 at 11:37 AM what a fabulous fun poem and a great tribute to sir tom cunningham, many congrats on POTD:-) hugs Jan xx Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 4:38 PM Thanks, Jan. Nice to see you back. Hugs // Charlie xx

John Watt January 5, 2022 at 11:02 AM Charlie, back to congratulate for your excellent POTD selection. Well done. Did you create the picture or did Tom? I see it is his new background pic. Don't forget to vote in the Vegemite vs. Marmite battle, lol. I've never had either, so I guess I'm Switzerland in this war. Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 4:41 PM Thanks for stopping back, John. That was Tom's creation but when I saw it, it inspired me to write this. Oh, I did my vote and I went with the Margemite (lol) Never had either myself.

Mark Koplin January 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM Awesome dedication Charles! Congratulations on POTD! Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 4:41 PM Thank you, Mark. Happy New Year!

David Kavanagh January 5, 2022 at 8:44 AM Congratulations Charlie on your insanely painful potd, hope Tom is on the mend, what an experience, but that’s cowboys for you, cheers David Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:20 AM Thank you, David...extremely painful (lol)

Paula Goldsmith January 5, 2022 at 7:47 AM Congratulations on your POTD win. A wonderful write and tribute to Tom. We now have 2 cowboys in the soup. Have a blessed day and New Year................. Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:22 AM Thank you, Paula...who's the other (lol) Happy New Year!

Rama Balasubramanian January 5, 2022 at 7:26 AM Great write. Congratulations on your well deserved Potd. Fun writes are not easy. You did this very well. Thanks for the laugh. Enjoy the honour and day friend Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:23 AM Thank you so much, Rama. Happy New Year!

Heidi Sands January 5, 2022 at 6:55 AM Congratulations for POTD and nice tribute to Tom :) Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:24 AM Thank you, Heidi. Happy New Year!

Anne-Lise Andresen January 5, 2022 at 6:27 AM - A great and fun poem :) - Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., Charlie :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:25 AM Thank you, Anne-Lise. Happy New Year! Hugs :)

Bill Baker January 5, 2022 at 6:05 AM WTG Charles! Fun read, well written. Gave me a smile to start my day. Thanks for sharing this humoreous story and tribute to a fine poet, Tom Cunningham that impressed "The Duke". Write on! Poetry ~ Friendship Bill Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:27 AM Thank you, Bill...much appreciated. Write on my friend! Happy New Year! ~Friendship Charlie

Constance La France January 5, 2022 at 5:15 AM Charlie, wonderful and so funny I absolutely love this tribute to our Tom Cunningham and a big congratulations on your deserving POEM OF DAY honor ~ friendship and poetry _Constance Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:30 AM Thank you so much, Constance. Tom is an icon here. ~Friendship & poetry forever :) Charlie

Vijay Pandit January 5, 2022 at 4:43 AM BIG congrats on POTD, Charlie. What a fun theme you chose for your poem! Much enjoyed this dedication to Tom. Clever, creative write. Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:31 AM Thank you, Vijay. Happy New Year my friend!

Valsa George January 5, 2022 at 4:30 AM I see that Tom Cunningham by himself is a source of fun and an object for others to have fun on . I wonder if Tom is still with the thorn on his butt..... :) A very humorous write, Charles . Congratulations on your POTD Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:33 AM LOL...I hope not about the thorn. Tom is a legend here :) Thank you, Valsa. Happy New Year!

Mike Gentile January 5, 2022 at 4:02 AM Back with a big CONGRATS!! Charlie, enjoy your day!! Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:34 AM Thanks again, Mike. You as well my friend!

Lin Lane January 5, 2022 at 3:55 AM THIS is the kind of fun that poets should be having in the soup! Congratulations on having written a POTD in this tribute to Tom, Charlie. Your storytelling, cactus needles in the butt and all, is such fun to read. Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:37 AM Hi Lin, I couldn't agree with you more. It's always nice to put a smile on someone's face. Thank you so much! Happy New Year!

Tania Kitchin January 5, 2022 at 3:24 AM Charlie, a great poem, creative and fun, congratulations on POTD! Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:38 AM Thank you so much, Tania. Happy New Year :)

Deb M January 5, 2022 at 2:57 AM Hi Charlie ….Congratulations a great poem indeed about a great Cowdy Tom Cunningham!! He goes from fighting spread wars to getting on his horse off into the desert getting a butt full of cacti….a very busy man!! Never a dull moment with Cowdy Cunningham! Well deserved Charlie. Debx Charles Messina January 5, 2022 at 9:41 AM Hi Deb, yes...Tom has been the talk of the town lately (lol). BTW, I loved reading yours and Tom's battles. Makes for great fun! Charlie x

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