Kathie in Thorp
Well-known member
A friend in MO sent me this the other day. He said it was written by a friend of his, whose wife is his top hand at their ranch. Well, I don't know if that friend actually wrote it or not, but it's pretty good. For all you ladies out there, that can run a chute, throw a bale, and carry a cow stick . . . .
After the most recent round of cattle trouble, with one getting out several times this week.
A special tribute to my bride of 33+ years, urban born and yet adaptable.
Ode (owed) to Annette
An excellent wrangler, who can find?
For her worth is far above electric fences.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he knows she will get the calves back in the pasture.
She does good, even when other things are on her mind,
All the days of her life, She looks for shorts in the fence,
And places where a calf might get out.
She is like sentinel, watching in the day and night; She hears them running in the dark.
She rises also while it is still night And tells her husband, "the cows are out."
She rounds up stray calves.
She considers a condo and buys it not;
Although she has given it serious consideration.
She girds herself in jeans and mud shoes
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her stick is good;
Her attentiveness to dumb calves does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the stock stick,
And her hands grasp the feed bucket.
She explains the way of things to her husband, In no uncertain terms.
She is not afraid of being kicked, For all her years it has not happened, until now.
She makes declarations for herself;
She makes it clear that the dumbass calf must go.
Her husband is become a patient man,
When he is on the road is when the cattle misbehave.
She makes it clear that if they get out, she will sell them, And that right early.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
Though slightly stained with cow manure.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, Sell the sonofabitch before I do something about it.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you are my best help and out do them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who can drive cattle, she shall be praised.
Give her the cattle stick in her hands, And she will put them through the gates.
Love you,
Bill
After the most recent round of cattle trouble, with one getting out several times this week.
A special tribute to my bride of 33+ years, urban born and yet adaptable.
Ode (owed) to Annette
An excellent wrangler, who can find?
For her worth is far above electric fences.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he knows she will get the calves back in the pasture.
She does good, even when other things are on her mind,
All the days of her life, She looks for shorts in the fence,
And places where a calf might get out.
She is like sentinel, watching in the day and night; She hears them running in the dark.
She rises also while it is still night And tells her husband, "the cows are out."
She rounds up stray calves.
She considers a condo and buys it not;
Although she has given it serious consideration.
She girds herself in jeans and mud shoes
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her stick is good;
Her attentiveness to dumb calves does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the stock stick,
And her hands grasp the feed bucket.
She explains the way of things to her husband, In no uncertain terms.
She is not afraid of being kicked, For all her years it has not happened, until now.
She makes declarations for herself;
She makes it clear that the dumbass calf must go.
Her husband is become a patient man,
When he is on the road is when the cattle misbehave.
She makes it clear that if they get out, she will sell them, And that right early.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
Though slightly stained with cow manure.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, Sell the sonofabitch before I do something about it.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you are my best help and out do them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who can drive cattle, she shall be praised.
Give her the cattle stick in her hands, And she will put them through the gates.
Love you,
Bill
