Featured at the BAR-D Ranch: From the Ground Up T. J. Casey youth program Cowboy Poetry at the BAR-D Ranch www.CowboyPoetry.com

Canyon Wind

The other night Mike
Was reading a book about a man who sinned
Then he heard from his open window
Whistling canyon wind.

It whistled and whistled on and on
Really, really loud.
It whistled so loud,
The noise went up to the clouds.

And Mike described,
It might be a lie
The clouds were shaking
In the sky.

He said the noise
Was so loud
That the canyon wind
Was very proud.

© 2009, Josie
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

Jumping Jack Rabbits

Jumping jack rabbits
through the meadow they go
running so fast
just like a muley doe.

When you go out to see
you find them with a spot light
just hopping along
in the plain dark night.

You grab your 22
and get ready to shoot
boom, you missed
and then you hear a hoot.

Oh! There goes another one
ready get your gun
yeah we got it
now our work here is done.

Brandon, go and get it
hurry before it gets cold
Dad honk the horn
to see if Brandon can hold.

As he honks the horn
the jumping jack hops up in fear
Brandon Catch it
before you fall on your rear.

So, that night as we laugh
we head home to go to sleep
as we lay on our beds there's no sound
not even a peep.

So, here's a hint
when you make it a habit
shooting and shooting
make you sure don't scream Jumping jack rabbit.

© 2009, Tobia Dawn
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

Heads and Heels

There goes the cow
Running down the trail
She was a lonely ol’ sow
So I knew we wouldn’t fail

One of us took the head
And one too the heels
My friend said
He had the tinkling feel

I told him
To just go
He told me Jim
Would toss him in the snow

I looked down
It was surely wet
Then I heard a sound
My friend needed a vet

That mean ol’ bull
Had stepped on his poor head
He looked very dull
I thought he was dead

So I let go
He was fine
But that bull was in the snow
We were out of time

That bull got away
We were fine
I just wish that bull was clay
Then we would of beat the time.

© 2009, Tanner
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

Saddle Tramp

Hi, I'm a "saddle tramp"
my horse is my traveling camp
I ride all day and I ride all night
I ride everywhere without missing a sight.

My trusty steed is a good ol' horse
she always travels a long the course
she can be fast or she can be slow
but she always gets me where I need to go.

One day we came upon a bear
we knew we had no time to spare
so I threw a rock right at his head
but that didn't put him down to bed.

When that didn't work my horse got a plan
she trampled the bear like he was a man
then on the way we went full of pride
my horse galloping in a full stride.

So now you know about my tale
and you'll always see me on a trail
me and my horse are sturdy and strong
when it comes to ridin' we never go wrong.

© 2009, Layna
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

Gallopin' Goat Roper

There was a huge stampede
Of gallopin' goats.
They were everywhere
In pastures, in cornfields, and even in boats.

It was all too strange,
They were too fast.
They zoomed right by
As they went past.

Someone had to fix this,
But who could it be?
That guy over there,
Maybe?

So I asked for his name.
He says, "I don't have a name,
I'm the gallopin' goat roper,
And roping gallopin' goats is my game."

So I say,
"Okay, let's cut to the chase.
You rope gallopin' goats,
So rope those goats before I slap your face!"

He said, "Okay, I will,
Just don't hurt me.
I'll sting those goats
Like a buzzing bee."

He gets up and gets his special rope,
Made from the hairs of a lion's mane.
From the way it looks,
I can tell this is going to cause a lot of pain.

He roped those goats,
So swift and so fast.
In my opinion,
The goats placed last.

So as you can see,
This guy was no joker.
He was a genuine,
Gallopin' goat roper.

© 2009, James
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

Ben's Dilemma

The room was quiet, everyone still,
the President wiped his hands
he picked up his pen, only to wonder
could he meet their demands?

One this day, November the second,
two states wanted to join
who would be first, the North or the South?
maybe he should flip a coin.

He finally decided how it should be done,
he simply would not look
he mixed up the papers and closed his eyes
and one paper he took.

He signed one with a flourish
the other as well,
he was done with this deed
the order he would not tell.

Although North will be first
because N is before S
Everyone knows,
South Dakota is best!

© 2009, Kirstyn
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

The Life of a Pioneer

The empty traveled roads

people carrying their belongings in loads

all the horses stopped and "woahed"

the Life of a Pioneer.

Sleeping on the harsh cold ground

never knowing what was to be found

having your gun ready at every sound

The Life of a Pioneer.

Telling stories by campfire at night

watching the beautiful dawn light

always seeing a new sight

The Life of a Pioneer.

The wind, the cold, the heat

always the same thing to eat

dreaming of the next time you would have meat

The Life of a Pioneer.

In the end the traveling was never done

though it was hard, it sure was fun

can't wait to wake up and see that sun

The Life of a Pioneer.

© 2009, Blair
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

Running Waters

While walking in the mountain's hills

I heard the faint cry of running water

while my stomach gurgled and my mouth dried

the weather started getting hotter.

I went in search of the running water

the sun beat down on my lean face

on and on the hills went there seemed to be no end.

While in search of the running water time ticked down in a rushing race.

Still on and on I went in search of the running water

as the sun beat down on me, I still walked tall and strong.

illusions came to me, and still the heat went on.

I stopped and looked around and my eye's told me everything was gone.

Then I heard the faint trickle of the running water

I darted left and all of a sudden I tumbled.

I rolled and rolled until I fell in a trickling wonder.

as I sat dumbfounded I realized my stomach started to rumble.

As the birds sang, and the bees buzzed I took a drink of the running water.

as the cold water touch my lips, my mouth burst full of wonderful wild flavor.

I finally found the running water

I look up in the sky and realized the day is near and I did myself a favor.

© 2009, Steve
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Galloping Goat Roper

Rodeo has never been the same

since 1987 came

it had a new claim to fame

and goat roping was its name.

If you had a horse

and a rope of course

you could be a Galloping Goat Roper

but you had to be a loper.

With a goat in the chute

your horse will have a dispute

but she settles down

with all four feet on the ground.

A rope in hand

the crowd cheering like a band

a nod of your head

and the goat will surely need a med.

Your horse takes off

like a big bad cough

you caught him around the neck

but you can't find your horn and think what the heck.

You finally get your dally

and jump off ole Sally

you grab the legs

like they're pegs.

When the goat hit he ground

there won't be no sound

you tie the legs together

and wait for six altogether.

The goat stays tied

oh boy its been a ride

so your name if only a hoper

could be Galloping Goat Roper.