Cattletoday Poetry

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

Have you ever noticed now and then,
That you get a cow that will not pen.
Twas two years ago in late November,
Or possibly early in December.
We were up in the hills doing our best,
To bring the cows back from the west.
I was admiring the scene,
At the edge of a big ravine.
It was a slope that would just beg,
For a horse to break its leg.
Up 'til then the herd was tight,
When I saw a cow break to the right.
And then four more did follow,
That stupid cow into the hollow.
So then I jumped off of my horse,
And started running, downhill of course.
Now, I'd heard that cows can't run downhill,
But it was me that tripped and took a spill.
The ravine was full of bushes and bogs,
And I kept falling in water and tripping on logs.
I found them in the bottom of that big ravine.
But, geez, they were looking awful keen.
And as I tried to circle 'round,
They were off and gone in a single bound.
When I got to the top, my legs they felt like stone,
And the riders and my faithful horse had left me all alone.
Then, I thought 'This is a walk that will never end.'
But, happily, they were waiting for me, right around the bend.
We got those cows back in the yard, right the very next day,
And then I phoned the auction yard and sent them on their way.

Copyright 2004

 

[Chuck]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :8) :mrgreen:

 

[Campground Cattle]

:clap: :clap:

 

[kjerckie]

I love the poetry hearts in you folks.

 

[Jake]

:clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[TheBullLady]

Gosh.. such talent on these boards!!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[trip]

i thought it was, "There was an old man from Nantucket"

 

[kjerckie]

Coyotes howl into the night
it sets my dogs to song
we know they are domesticated
they know where they belong.

Horses jitter in the night
their sweat is damp with fear
they sense that evil lurks about
feel it, lurking near.

Cats are quiet in the corner
it's hiding over there
they see it's shadow on the wall
eye-to-eye they stare.

I turn the lights on
now it's gone ...
you see, it never was
but let imagination live
you'll always think it does.

 

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

Very Good. I knew there must be some more poets around here somewhere.

 

[Jake]

I can write, but just haven't written anything about ranching....

 

[kjerckie]

Jake,
Send it on

 

[Jake]

have you ever had a fear of fear,
do you miss being missed
do you love to be loved
I feel all these things
I fear I'm not missed or loved
I feel these things inside that I hate to let out
I fear how they'd be accpeted once outside
My best is no longer good enough
My love barely strong enough
Can I ever do enough
Am I looking in my feeling or lacking in my reciprocating
Am I good enough to make anybody happy
Can I give then what they deserve.....


I wrote that a couple of weeks ago before a class, I was having a horrible day and it just came out, nothing has been edited or revised so it needs some serious work, the rest are on the other computer so I might put some of them up too

 

[kjerckie]

Jake,
Regardless of how old we get, we all have just those kind of days. The best poems are those that come out of the heart. Good job.

 

[kjerckie]

I wrote this for my company truck drivers in December 2000. I'd also like to dedicate it now to the drivers on this board:

Driver's Prayer

Millennium two-thousand
is soon to be shutting down,
the year was full of laughter
with a day or two of a frown.

Each night upon returning home
I searched above my head,
I'd speak my heart into the space
and this is what I said:

"Oh Lord if you can hear me now
above all other's prayers,
I have a favor to ask of you
in that, which I deeply care.

Would you keep our drivers safe
and guide the trucks with your hand,
The company depends on them
to move us across your land.

Always give them those few extra feet
that they'll need in a second to stop,
hold on to the binders, pull down on the rope
and please keep the tires on blacktop.

Keep their hands dry when the traffic is slow
if they're sad, show them something they'll like,
take care of the static and clear up the air
when there's harm and they grap for the mic.

Return them home safely to families and friends
and help them to leave this behind-
the tension of work, the stress of the road
and civilians who were incredibly unkind.

This prayer now in closing, I have one more thing
I thank you for the friends they have been,
I'll stop any traffic, I'll do what I can
to help ease their movement ... Amen"

 

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

Good poems Jake and Karen:

I came across a website the other day http://www.cowboypoetry.com that kind of makes most of my attempts look pretty feeble.
I really have to be in the right mindset to write poetry. Lately, I haven't been. Should get less busy soon and then I'll have time to get back at it.

 

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

Here's one I wrote last summer:

Devil Cow

Sit back in that chair there son,
And let me tell you about the cow we call the devil one.
She's part Limousin and part Charolais,
And a little bit of Brahma, I might say.
She's got legs like a deer and horns like a moose,
And you've really got to watch her when she cuts loose.
When dad bought her at the auction back in '99,
She was a good looking heifer, young and fine.
Now she's six feet tall, long and lean,
And gives a new definition to the word of mean.
She's the worst for getting behind your back,
And trying to launch a sneak attack.
She has no idea or concept of fence,
So putting her in just makes no sense.
And God forbid you should tag her calf,
Because she'll do her best to break you in half.
And as far as calves go, I think she's to blame,
Because every one has a temper that is just the same.
In the fall when we ship our culls and steers,
She seems to know and disappears.
But right after that truck is gone,
You'll see her standing up on the lawn.
I don't know what a poor boy is to do,
So I guess I'll have to shoot her with my .222.

Copyright 2004

 

[certherfbeef]

That's a good one cattle rack! I can relate to the "don't try to tag her calf, she'll break you in half" part, got a herf like that. Take care and have a good one!!

 

[CattleAnnie]

Thanks CRR! Got quite a chuckle out of that one... if you'd coloured her black and given her Saler ancestry, she'd be my "Frankencow" a.k.a. #219 down to a "tee".

Take care.

 

[kjerckie]

Great poem CRR. I like the part about her hiding till it's over.

 

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

Another Year

The days are getting shorter,
And Autumn has made her bed.
And I can see that Winter,
Has raised his bearded head.

As I sit out on the step,
In the crystal light of dawn.
I'm trying hard to understand,
The year that's come and gone.

I shipped my calves last week,
And I'm wondering what the heck.
And why all my hard work,
Didn't show up on the check.

Calving was kind of rough this year,
And a couple of calves were lost.
And a few cows came in open,
Which added to the cost.

Summer was late but when it came,
The grass was lush and green.
But it was the wettest, coolest summer,
That we had ever seen.

All my calves got vaccinated,
Tagged, dehorned and banded.
And when my wife couldn't help,
I did it single-handed.

When it was time for shipping,
The calves were looking great.
A whole 70 pounds higher,
Than last years shipping weight.

But when I shipped my calves,
The markets just weren't good.
And my good looking calves,
Brought less than I thought they would.

So now Christmas is coming,
And I wonder how I'm going to say.
'Sorry kids, no toys this year,
All my money's gone for hay.'

And that's why I'm sitting here,
In the morning all alone.
20 months worth of sleepless nights,
Have left me weary to the bone.

So, I guess it will be a Christmas,
Like back when we were boys.
A Christmas about family,
With not so many toys.

I guess I don't know,
It could be for the best.
So I'll wish you all a Merry Christmas,
And put this thing to rest.

Copyright 2004