Best Surliest Poems
Cowgirl Up
Well, I had a mean hoss like that
Way back in twenty three
He had the surliest temper
You'd ever want to see
He'd snake them ears when I came 'round
An' curl his lips just so
Then flash his eyes like trouble, son,
More than you'd want to know
I was courtin' your mother then
An' sure as I'm your pa
When you hear 'em say "Cowgirl Up"
They're talkin' 'bout your ma
I told her she could have that hoss
If she could calm him down
She smiled and kissed me on the cheek
An' headed into town
She came back with a nylon rope
'Bout fifty feet I'd say
An' what she did with that lasso
I chuckle still today
Tied one end to the snubbin' post
Stood there like she was bait
He sneaked right up to take a bite
Found out he was too late
She slipped the loop over his head
An' punched him 'tween the eyes
Then kicked him in the ribs three times -
He stood there in surprise
Then he took off to jump the fence
Runnin at a lope
An' he forgot just where he was
'Til he ran out of rope
It turned him over end for end
An' he hit with a thump
Your Ma strolled over casual like
An' sat down on his rump
That hoss just fell in love that day
Your ma was his whole world
He still hated the rest of us
He'd give his lips that curl
But he'd protect her with his life
She belonged on his back
I don't think he forgot that day
That he ran outta slack
BE MERRY
be merry, not blue.
blow your nose, no boo hoos,
dot your eyes.
i’ve provided an embroidered,
lacy handkerchief —
the old-fashioned kind,
that pulls up your bootstraps,
tickles your fancy,
almost too pretty, kind,
leaves no red streaks
creates smiles, not weak
and the square is perfumed
with a childhood scent
that twinkles your eyes.
gregarious giggles
cause your shoulders to shake,
put a kick in your step
as you decorate and bake.
the sweet little cloth
wipes the surliest frowns,
stirs up
cordial sentiments —
hug from mom, pat from dad
a round-robin of Winter friends,
a cup of hot cocoa,
the thrill of a visit
from reindeer and St. Nick.
be merry and bright
through the darkest of nights
be the candle that shines
in the window. its fog
fizzles into a magic act,
replaced by a happy gait.
be merry, wear a cherry
on top of your head, be
not faint —
have the gumption
to lead the sugar foray.
keep your square
and encourage
each cheek
of its kissable quality
its unshakable victory —
a marvelous merry awaits!
12/14/2020