Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO HEAR HIM TELL IT, by ANONYMOUS First Line: I was just about to take a drink Subject(s): Bars & Bartenders;cowboys;ranch Life;talk;west (u.s.); Southwest;pacific States | ||||||||
I WAS just about to take a drink I was mighty dry So I hailed an old time cowman Who was passing by, "Come in, Ole Timer! have a drink! Kinda warm today!" As we leaned across the bar-rail "How's things up your way?" "Stock is doin' fairly good, Range is gettin' fine; I jes dropped down to meetin' here To spend a little time. Con'sidable stuff a-movin' now Cows an' hosses, too, Prices high an' a big demand Now I'm tellin' you! "I've loaded out my feeders, Got a good price all aroun'; Sold 'em in Kansas City To a commission man named Brown. A thousand told o' mixed stuff, In pretty fair shape, too," Said the old Texas cowman, "Now I'm tellin' you! "I've been in this yere country Since late in fifty-nine, I know every foot o' sage brush Clear to the southern line. Got my first bunch started up Long in seventy-two, Had to ride range with a long rope Now I'm tellin' you! "Lordy, I kin remember Them good ole early days When we ust t' trail the herds north 'N forty different ways. Jes'n point 'em from the beddin' groun' An' let 'em drift right through," Said the reminiscent cowman, "Now I'm tellin' you! "Yessir, trailed 'em up to Wichita, Cross the Kansas line, Made deliveries at Benton As early as fifty-nine. Turned 'em most to soldiers, Some went to Injuns, too, Beef wasn't nigh so high then Now I'm tellin' you! "Son, I've fit nigh every Injun That ever roamed the plains, 'N I was one o' the best hands That ever pulled bridle reins. Why, you boys don't know range life You don't seem to git the ways, Like we did down in Texas In them good ol' early days! "Yes, thing's a heap sight diff'rent now! 'Tain't like in them ol' days When cowmen trailed their herds north 'N forty diff'rent ways. We ship 'em on the railroad now, Load out on the big S. P.," Says the relic of Texas cowman As he takes a drink with me. "I figger on buyin' more feeders, From down across the line Chihuahua an' Sonora stuff, An' hold 'em till they're prime. So here's to the steers an' yearlin's!" As we clink our glasses two, "Things ain't the same as they used to be, Now I'm tellin' you! "I got t' git out an' hustle, I ain't got time t' stay; Jes' want t' see some uh the boys 'N then I'm on my way. There's many a hand here right now That I know'd long, long ago, When ranch land was free an' open An' the plowman had a show. "'Tain't often we git together To swap yarns an' tell our lies," Said the old time Texas cowman As a mist comes to his eyes. "So let's drink up; here's how!" As we drain our glasses two, "Them was good ol' days an' good ol' ways Now I'm tellin' you!" He talked and talked and yarned away, He harped on days of yore My head it ached and I grew faint; My legs got tired and sore. Then a woman yelled, "You come here, John!" And Lordy! how he flew! And the last I heard as he broke and ran Was, "Now I'm tellin' you!" I won't never hail old timers To have a drink with me, To learn the history of the range As far back as seventy-three. And the next time that I'm thirsty And feeling kind of blue, I'll step right up and drink alone Now I'm tellin' you! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WESTERN WAGONS by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET DRIVING WEST IN 1970 by ROBERT BLY IN THE HELLGATE WIND by MADELINE DEFREES A PERIOD PORTRAIT OF SYMPATHY by EDWARD DORN ASSORTED COMPLIMENTS by EDWARD DORN AT THE COWBOY PANEL by EDWARD DORN TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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