We met south of the border in Durango
and she was hot and boy could she fandango.
She said at a glance
"senor like to dance?"
No mamacita, but I’d love to tango!
Written: September 2014
Categories:
durango, humorous,
Form: Limerick
Shadows on a cave wall,
eyes that look for truth
Figments of what sight denies
—dancing resolute
(Durango Colorado: September, 2004)
Categories:
durango, imagery,
Form: Rhyme
The open West is an iron lung
for the polio of my soul
Lifting me up and breathing in
at once to make me whole
Wild and free, its air blows clean
to minister my wounds
And nurse me back to perfect health
—a second none to soon
(Durango Colorado: February, 2019)
Categories:
durango, health,
Form: Rhyme
Roy Rogers and Red Ryder rode on that black and white stage—
It was the best of times, to be a kid of any age.
Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy – that Durango Kid—
They kept us shootin’ outlaws and drinkin’ milk – yes, they did!
We ate up that cereal and sent away for those things,
Like trick lassos, milk mugs, masks and those plastic cowboy rings.
It was another time of Mix and Tim McCoy, I’ve heard--
When men rode horses and ‘cowboy’ weren’t a four-letter word!
They have not rode into sunsets, as they were apt to do—
They’re now on the mountaintops of the minds of me and you.
Categories:
durango, childhood, cowboy-western, introspection, nostalgia,
Form: Cowboy Poetry
The nights were long
and my days seem short
had to do something
so I left my port
A one-way ticket
on a greyhound bus
a compelling journey
inner feeling must trust
first stop,Durango
high in the Rockies
a couple of days hiking
loud thunder was shocking
Next stop,was Gallup
from here,began my walk about
unsure of destination
first step began my route
Halfway to nowhere
dropped my load,to look around
sensational insight
revelation was found
Looked back toward beginning
so distant,out of sight
looked ahead for the end
no end to my flight
Sort of like life
past and future,uncertain
adventerous journeys
once removed from our curtain
continued my walk
through the mountains of Arizona
amazing sights
spent the night all alone-a
Under a canopy of stars
cool evening wind
no city lights
a universe with no end
Infinity came calling
understanding to follow
somewhere hides destiny
heartsongs sung hallowed.....
Categories:
durango, adventure, introspection, nature, peace,
Form: Free verse
He was a sidekick even before they thought of such things,
Put there to add humor after the singing cowboy sings.
But he could sing, too, and often sang a funny ditty,
Yet his was one fine voice and he sure sang those songs pretty.
He had him a deep, full voice that could range both high or low,
And the way that he could whistle would move and stir your soul.
Sometimes he was Frog Millhouse – to us just Smiley Burnette—
There ain’t been no one that’s come along that’s been like him yet.
He’d been the friend of Gene, of Roy and the Durango Kid—
He always was the best at just what it was that he did.
It seems in his life, humor and joy were his main function;
Making movies and ending up on Petticoat Junction.
In life’s short trip we hold tight and try not to have regret—
Do what we love and do our best like that Smiley Burnette.
We touch the world with sadness, then bring it back to laughter;
Thanks Smiley, for showing the way – that’s all we’re really after.
Categories:
durango, cowboy-western, life, people, voice,
Form: Cowboy Poetry