riding the cows on a cold early spring calving

3 Comments

Tags:
  • Life

    Poem Commentary

    From experiences in Wyomng in the 60's on the 3 Circle Ranch. Riding with Del Esquibel. I usually rode Red when there was roping to do. Del usualyl rode his big brown horse from Texas. I also rode a buckskin named Buck, a pinto named Buck, a Morgan named Bill and a rank little gray horse that threw me a few times..and i never gave a name. We had several horse in our remuda. We rode every day. Sun up to sundown. From the start of calving in late February through summer.. Then branded then hayed.. In the Fall we shipped. In the winter we fed cattle and fixed things.

    riding the cows on a cold early spring calving
    slammed hard against a board fence
    by a cancer jawed cow dripping spit
    busted against the barn wall
    by a rank horse throwing a fit
    laid up for a month 
    old bones don't mend as easy
    as they used to
    up in the morning
    dark
    a hurtin' chill running through
    there's no one else to do it
    spring snow
    wet and cold
    Bright and chapped and raw
    and the cows feel the same
    long days riding
    cow's udders sun-burnt
    from reflecting snow
    rope her down balm her teats
    put down her calf
    balm his nose
    welcome the heat
    it all brings

    Poem Comments

    (3)

    Please login or register

    You must be logged in or register a new account in order to
    leave comments/feedback and rate this poem.

    Login or Register

    Teardrops commented on riding the cows on a cold early spring calving

    02-02-2011

    Training a cutting horse and he decides to lay down with you on him . I feel your pain . Great poem a so true Marie
    Reply to Comment

    train64 commented on riding the cows on a cold early spring calving

    02-02-2011

    Thank you. Spent a few years in Wyoming on family ranches in my younger days..
    Reply to Comment

    Rhymer commented on riding the cows on a cold early spring calving

    02-02-2011

    You poem takes me back, long time since I have worked a farm, never to the extent you are writing about. A hard life with plenty of work. 10 from me
    Reply to Comment

    Poetry comes nearer to vital truth than history.

    Plato (BC 427-BC 347) Greek philosopher.

    train64’s Poems (87)

    Title Comments Submitted
    Title Comments Submitted
    The Old Man and I - The Dream 1 12/19/2011
    the road 2 03/14/2011
    Observing 3 03/14/2011
    Kathy 2 03/14/2011
    the lonely mountain 3 03/04/2011
    the picture 3 03/03/2011
    southern thoughts 3 03/03/2011
    she didn’t know when she got it 3 03/01/2011
    The Bastard’s 4 03/01/2011
    For the love of God 3 02/25/2011
    all night drive 3 02/25/2011
    morning 1 02/24/2011
    one of those days 2 02/24/2011
    picking up Kemper at the nursery 3 02/24/2011
    a dark mind 3 02/24/2011
    a small intimacy circa early 70's 5 02/22/2011
    The Tomb 2 02/20/2011
    man are from Mars 4 02/19/2011
    one more day 2 02/19/2011
    Our Trails 1 02/18/2011
    my wheel 4 02/18/2011
    A Cowboy Elk and Dog Story 4 02/17/2011
    Oscar 5 02/16/2011
    heartache 4 02/13/2011
    snooty people 5 02/13/2011
    a small recollection 5 02/13/2011
    the memory 6 02/11/2011
    yesterday 3 02/11/2011
    letter to jim 2 02/11/2011
    when I stop myself 2 02/07/2011
    haying - revisited 2 02/07/2011
    cowboys 2 02/07/2011
    lost 1 02/07/2011
    august to nebraska 3 02/05/2011
    the canyon 2 02/04/2011
    midnight in wyoming 3 02/04/2011
    hard voiced ladies 2 02/04/2011
    on a bus riding home 2 02/03/2011
    observer 4 02/02/2011
    the cabin 3 02/02/2011
    riding the cows on a cold early spring calving 3 02/02/2011
    ADHD 6 02/01/2011
    full wolf moon 4 01/31/2011
    don't look back 2 01/31/2011
    pressure drive 2 01/31/2011
    in search of 2 01/31/2011
    on a rainy day 2 01/31/2011
    dreams 3 01/31/2011
    if 6 01/31/2011
    a day in the life of PAXIL 4 01/29/2011
    the building 2 01/29/2011
    days on the road 2 01/29/2011
    the day i shot the antelope 2 01/29/2011
    Short Version of A Book Length Epic Love Story Manuscript 2 01/29/2011
    rules 3 01/29/2011
    spring of 64' 2 01/28/2011
    alice ann 3 01/28/2011
    the 60's 2 01/28/2011
    growing up stupid 4 01/27/2011
    looking for ruts to follow 4 01/27/2011
    me and Lillie Mae 3 01/26/2011
    perhaps the waves by Kalamai 2 01/26/2011
    the wall 3 01/26/2011
    12 o'clock news 3 01/25/2011
    LancePaul and I 2 01/25/2011
    do buses to wyoming stop here 4 01/25/2011
    There Is 5 01/25/2011
    the pony bar and grill and backyard bedroom 2 01/25/2011
    broken heart 2 01/24/2011
    fire and photographs 1 01/24/2011
    Tipi Rings (Tee Pee) 1 01/24/2011
    Culture 1 01/23/2011
    yet, we are more 1 01/21/2011
    somewhere between somewhere and somewhere 2 01/21/2011
    Certain to Be A Country Classic, Maybe 1 01/21/2011
    small pieces of life in a dream journey 2 01/21/2011
    The only good Indian 1 01/21/2011
    I wish I was Roy 1 01/21/2011
    Fixin' Fence 2 01/21/2011
    The Wind of Fall 1 01/21/2011
    America 3 01/21/2011
    Footprints of the Soul 4 01/19/2011
    Remembering 1 01/19/2011
    Edith's House 1 01/17/2011
    Thoughts on Cowboys and Horses 3 01/17/2011
    Haying: Me, and Bill and Wayne 2 01/17/2011
    The Red Horse 5 12/13/2010
    Top of Page