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Tom and the Duke

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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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Sandra L. Weiss

Date: 1/17/2022 7:44:00 AM

Would be a great western, for sure! The "Duke" a man of few words, our Tom, a man of many, riding off into the sunset. I can see it clearly. Congrats Charlie on POTD. Congrats Tom, the inspiration for this one. Love the pic.

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 1/8/2022 10:51:00 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

Date: 1/7/2022 6:34:00 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

Date: 1/5/2022 8:54:00 PM

Congrats on POTD with this tribute to Tom

Charles Messina
Date: 1/6/2022 5:00:00 AM

Thank you, Joseph. Happy New Year!

Brandy Nicole

Date: 1/5/2022 6:41:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 7:26:00 PM

That's right, Brandy. That's what cowboys do (lol). Thank you so much! Happy New Year! Hugs, Charlie

Eve Roper

Date: 1/5/2022 5:43:00 PM

Oh, Tom, had a great big part. Love it Charles. Congratulations on POTD. :)

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 7:26:00 PM

Thank you, Eve. Happy New Year! Hugs :)

Ken Rone

Date: 1/5/2022 3:17:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 4:33:00 PM

LOL, Ken. I see where you were going with that F.L./J.P. theory. Thanks for the awesome comment.

Jenna Logan

Date: 1/5/2022 2:33:00 PM

You two cowboys can giddy up on my range anytime. Great write and congratulations on potd, Charlie!

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 4:34:00 PM

Hi yo Silver...away! (lol) Thank you, Jenna!

Debra L Brown

Date: 1/5/2022 2:08:00 PM

Congratulations on POTD! I enjoyed the poem ~ Debra

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 4:35:00 PM

Thank you, Debra! Glad you enjoyed!

P.S. Awtry

Date: 1/5/2022 12:42:00 PM

This is a cute story! A little painful in the end ;) Congrats on your POTD honor ~ps

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 4:37:00 PM

LOL, indeed, painful. Thank you, P.S.

Jan Allison

Date: 1/5/2022 11:37:00 AM

what a fabulous fun poem and a great tribute to sir tom cunningham, many congrats on POTD:-) hugs Jan xx

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 4:38:00 PM

Thanks, Jan. Nice to see you back. Hugs // Charlie xx

John Watt

Date: 1/5/2022 11:02:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 4:41:00 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

Date: 1/5/2022 11:00:00 AM

Awesome dedication Charles! Congratulations on POTD!

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 4:41:00 PM

Thank you, Mark. Happy New Year!

David Kavanagh

Date: 1/5/2022 8:44:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:20:00 AM

Thank you, David...extremely painful (lol)

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 1/5/2022 7:47:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:22:00 AM

Thank you, Paula...who's the other (lol) Happy New Year!

Rama Balasubramanian

Date: 1/5/2022 7:26:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:23:00 AM

Thank you so much, Rama. Happy New Year!

Heidi Sands

Date: 1/5/2022 6:55:00 AM

Congratulations for POTD and nice tribute to Tom :)

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 9:24:00 AM

Thank you, Heidi. Happy New Year!

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 1/5/2022 6:27:00 AM

- A great and fun poem :) - Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., Charlie :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 9:25:00 AM

Thank you, Anne-Lise. Happy New Year! Hugs :)

Bill Baker

Date: 1/5/2022 6:05:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:27:00 AM

Thank you, Bill...much appreciated. Write on my friend! Happy New Year! ~Friendship Charlie

Constance La France

Date: 1/5/2022 5:15:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:30:00 AM

Thank you so much, Constance. Tom is an icon here. ~Friendship & poetry forever :) Charlie

Vijay Pandit

Date: 1/5/2022 4:43:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:31:00 AM

Thank you, Vijay. Happy New Year my friend!

Valsa George

Date: 1/5/2022 4:30:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:33:00 AM

LOL...I hope not about the thorn. Tom is a legend here :) Thank you, Valsa. Happy New Year!

Mike Gentile

Date: 1/5/2022 4:02:00 AM

Back with a big CONGRATS!! Charlie, enjoy your day!!

Charles Messina
Date: 1/5/2022 9:34:00 AM

Thanks again, Mike. You as well my friend!

Lin Lane

Date: 1/5/2022 3:55:00 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
Date: 1/5/2022 9:37:00 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!