Cowboy Poetry: Cowpoke Pony

[bookblather]

Posted with permission of jjhunter-- sorry it's late!

To wrap up Cowboy Poetry Week, I thought I'd try my hand at a cowboy poem of my own. I tried to incorporate all the elements-- rhythm, lyrical elements, simple language, cowboy themes. I think I succeeded. What do you think?


there's something about a cowpoke pony
his smooth broad back and his liquid eyes
his little strong legs like engine pistons
his heart as big as the western skies

he drapes his head on over my shoulder
blows in my ear with his warm wet breath
steals my hat and runs while I'm laughing
follows me to the brink of death

your horse is your partner, best friend, brother
quick as a butterfly, smart as a whip
you can ride on his back through the blaze of hell
if it's up to him, you'll survive the trip.

my horse is my heart, my steady backer
and I know, whatever my end will be
when I get to the front of those gates of glory
my horse will be right there next to me.


If you were to write a cowboy poem, what would you write it about? I write about horses because I love them dearly, and I've always been a horse person. Would you choose the landscape, the loneliness, the cattle? What rhythm or voice would you choose? Would you go more traditional, as I have done, or would you go more contemporary?

Have you sought out any other poems? Is there one or two you particularly liked that you could link? What do you like about cowboy poetry in general?

Any other discussion welcome, of course.

Comments

[serene]

That's a really beautiful poem; good job! I especially love "if it's up to him, you'll survive the trip" and "blows in my ear with his warm wet breath / steals my hat and runs while I'm laughing"

[bookblather]

Those are both personal experiences. There's this mare at my barn who likes to breathe in my ear, all noisy and warm, like a bellows. And a particularly mischievious pony who will bite the hat off your head and then play keepaway, if you let him. He's a doll.

Thank you!

[untonuggan]

Seconded that those are also my two favorite lines!

I think I'd probably write about the landscape, but I don't really have much experience with landscape out west except through books (even though I was born in Oklahoma, we moved when I was two).

[untonuggan]

I just love the descriptions of prairie land from Laura Ingalls Wilder and all those types of books. Don't know if you ever read them, but it sort of got stuck in my head.

By the way - one of the few things I do remember about Oklahoma City from a trip back later is that there is a Cowboy museum there. There's all sorts of great cowboy art. You should check it out if you get the chance.

[lilmoka]

Before I googled it, I thought a cowpoke was a type of horse... *giggles*

Uhm, if I were to write a cowboy poem I'd probably write about tumbleweed. I've always been fascinated by those balls of hay rolling around in deserts :)

[bookblather]

Well, sort of! Horses can be cowboys, too. :D There's a poem I read called "The Best Cowpokes Aren't Always Human," which is actually about an ape that's a cowboy, but I originally thought the poet was talking about horses. They're such partners in the cowboy life, and treated on a par with the human cowboys. Or should be, anyway (ie, No Rest for the Horse).

Ooh, what an interesting idea! I'd like to read that poem, if you ever get around to writing it.

[lilmoka]

That's true!

I'm doing a one poem per day thingie at my journal for the national poetry month, so I may just tr my hand at it! ;)

[bookblather]

If you do, please link me! I'd love to read it.

[lilmoka]

I will! :)

[alee_grrl]

This is lovely and an excellent cowboy poem. I found myself adopting a twang as I read it outloud (having lived in various parts of the US, my accent shifts a lot). The imagery is great fun, particularly of the horse laying her head over your should and the other playing keep away with the hat.

The American West has such broad, sweeping and amazing landscapes that I imagine they would play a large part in any cowboy poetry I attempted. I'm fond of horses, but have very limited experience with them. Having only been riding a few times way back when I was a girl. :) I've had several long drives (cross country moves ftw) across traditional ranching country though. I can only imagine what it would be like herding cattle in the same land.

[bookblather]

I did a couple cross-country drives last year, and going across those huge expanses, it seemed nearly endless. And we were in a car, so we were moving very fast. Moving across it on horseback with thousands of cattle in tow must have been both incredible and incredibly boring.

If you ever write a landscape cowboy poem, I would love to read it!

[alee_grrl]

I'll let you know if I ever do write one. :)

[alee_grrl]

And no worries about the late post. We gave you rather short notice for hosting this week, seems only fair to give you a bit of extra time. Thanks so much for hosting. I've really enjoyed your posts and hope that you decide to host again sometime. :)

[bookblather]

Thanks. I'll do that! It was a lot of fun.

[alee_grrl]

Yay! That's what we love to hear. :D