Among hills Apache red
Where damas and vaqueros
Built up a homestead
Past the mercados
And hills with a vague past
Running aside the mission
Its white walls chaste
In the glow of the noontime sun
Past a dreamy mountain range
And several places where in brief
There was a Butterfield stage –
Runs a highway through my life
And whether bathed by the sun
Or a cloud of headlight glare
It continues to function
And remain my anchor.
Categories:
vaqueros, history, mountains, sun,
Form: Rhyme
Buckaroos wave in the wagons into a corral, circle of
Conestoga wagons mixed with covered wagons 100 count,
Next to the butte, a springer delivers calf alive; compadres cheer wahoo!
Exuberance looking at large remuda, choosing each a horse to mount.
Morning sun illuminates camp as mozo helps secure on a horse the rig,
Saddle up with aparejo and alforja to work on the range, the keen
Vaqueros mill the running cattle into a circle, and bulldog the doggie
Pulling down the calf to avoid the barranca deep ravine.
Noontime hot sun heats frijoles, huevos rancheros, and beef or lunch,
Cowboys drift cattle slowly ranch side, buckaroo pulls in the doggie stray calf,
Moving away from the coulee ravine towards the crick,
Dragonflies zoom near as waddys punch cattle herding,
resounding a hooray laugh.
Evening warm summer sun lights adobe viga roof beam end rustic,
Acequia irrigation canal greens the bolson flat arid valley,
Olla earthenware pot full of water complement hoedown and dinner,
Ramada shelter branches on roof give rest to camp, peaceful tally.
Categories:
vaqueros, america, day, horse, morning,
Form: Rhyme
This is a Rosarian Sonnet in pentameter
I wanted to see a new sailing ship.
To Dana Point I went, just a short trip,
I toured the Brig Pilgrim, gift from Denmark
to the United States honoring great
Henry Richard Dana;s voyage of late.
It was around Cape Horn they plied their sails
in eighteen thirty-five. through rain and gales.
With hope of buying hides they disembark
off California’s Spanish rancho fields.
San Diego’ s ranchos gave many yields.
Rancho San Lauius filled ship’s hold full
Fiesta was given by vaqueros
Mayordomo was happy with pesos.
He gave special fight with rancho’s mean bull
Categories:
vaqueros, history,
Form: Sonnet
A new Paloma captain takes command.
Proficient mate will take the vessel's lead.
"No doubt. Who's new captain, Excellency?"
"He was first mate under Captain Luego. His
name's Frank Thompson. Perhaps you've already
met him in your past business dealings with La Paloma?"
"No, Don Hernandez, that honor's never been mine.
Captain Luego never introduced us. Of course I
know who the gentleman is for I've seen him give
commands aboard ship. It seems, as I recall, men
obeyed him very quickly."
" It's true, he uses the whip. If he didn't he couldn't
be captain. Men must sometimes be driven to do
their duty. But I don't have to tell you that, Don Huerra.
You've large land holdings and many vaqueros. I
doubt if El Segundo allows disobedience."
" El Segundo's one much man. I don't worry about
anything when he's around. But, Don Hernandez, I've
not yet had the pleasure of talking to your wife.
May I speak with her and tell her how happy
I am to be having dinner with you tonight.?"
Categories:
vaqueros, sea,
Form: Free verse
It’s thirteen thousand miles from Boston to
San Diego around far Cape Horn’s way.
Ship needs to sail to that distant quay.
The Cape is a hard challenge for the crew
It’s where the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans meet and the waves are horrific.
The number of ships lost are not a few.
With good sailing San Diego can be
reached in three months from Boston’s fine dock
in hope of returning with rancho stock.
Condition of hides rest upon the sea,
if hold remains ever dry and shipshape,
The wetting of hide they hope to escape.
No fear Brig Pilgrim’s hold is danger free.
Hide house at the Mexican harbor’s berth
cures hides vaqueros bring from distant field
hoping to gain a goodly peso yield.
Their agents bargain for true values worth
Profit will give major-domo much peace
He’ll thank the Virgin for worry’s surcease
At hacienda there will be much mirth.
Categories:
vaqueros, ocean,
Form: Rhyme
Rancho San Luis Ore encompassed plain
of Laurius between the mountains nigh.
"Vicioso", ferocious grizzly, bane
to Miquel's peace of mind, lived close near by.
Don Miquel's spirit made him need to try
to capture honey loving beast for sport.
This ursine'll be soon tied where hives do lie,
for vaqueros love most that play of sort.
The Laurius grass plain was valley wide,
reward to Jose, Miquel's pater old.
For service great to Spanish monarch's pride
against French reign, for being captain bold.
The plain's worth many fine doubloons of gold,
an everlasting feed for cattle need.
But other eyes do covet Miquel's hold,
and claim that plain's held by outdated deed.
Categories:
vaqueros,
Form: Rhyme
That's why you have boot straps, she's heard the old vaqueros say
But she'd throw away all her tomorrows for one single yesterday
She wishes deep down for a better day somewhere down the road
But for now the grief, loneliness & tears make a heavy load
She's much too young to carry the burden she's been thrown
But there is no other choice, she will push through on her own
She'll ride to hell & back again trying to outrun the pain
But no matter how far she rides, he'll not come home again
Her very own Cowboy Charming, a fairytale come true
Until a cruel twist of fate painted her world faded denim blue
How long will she replay that single moment in time?
A day & forever, she'll still find no reason or rhyme
She has tasted love's passion & felt its cruel sting
Felt both the elation & misery that only true love can bring
She once carried her heart like a balloon, bright & airy
Now she locks it away deep inside & is wary
She's sworn never again to give in to desire
Now, its covered with burlap
& wrapped in barb wire
(c) October 2003
Categories:
vaqueros, cowboy-western, death, introspection, life,
Form: Cowboy Poetry