JEFF BURKHART
Tucson, Arizona
About Jeff Burkhart

Jeff Burkhart competing at the 2002
Cowboy Poetry Rodeo
photo by Lloyd Shelby

 

 

A Cowhand's Prayer

One night a lonely Cowboy looked up
at all the stars a shining bright;
And remembered a little prayer he'd heard,
From a cowhand riding herd one night,
he said:

"Lord, I know don't come visit your camp that much,
But it seems you're always at mine;
Whether I'm out on a round-up
or riding an ole chuck line.

"But Lord, you know my ways are simple,
Just like this little prayer;
And I just wanted to thank you, Lord,
For dealin' my cards up fair.

"I pray there will always be good horses,
With plenty of range to roam;
With green grass of plenty,
for this is truly a Cowboy's home.

"Well Lord, I've got to get back to the herd now,
And I appreciate you listening in;
For you know a Cowboy's work is never done,
But I'm sure I'll be callin' again."

© January 1996, Jeff Burkhart





The Cowhand Calls Again


Howdy Lord,
It's me again.
I'm writing you this time
With a ball point pen.

The last time I called ya
I was watchin' the herd.
Since I last spoke to ya
I've been readin' your word.

I read in the Good Book
How folks treated your son,
And How he forgave 'em
For the wrongs that they'd done.

How he traveled the world
Helping all those who seek,
The blind and the ill
And the timid and week.

He fed those with hunger
And helped them that were lost,
He gave them salvation
But his life's what it cost.

Yeah, Jesus was a top notch hand
I'll sure admit that,
He had to have been a cowboy
To have worn thorns for a hat.

Them outlaws they called Romans
Who didn't treat him well,
Had to face their day of judgment
In the fires of hell.

Revelations says he'll come again
On a big white horse he'll ride,
And I hope that when that day comes
We can ride side by side.

Well Lord, I guess I'll close for now
But I'm sure I'll call ya again,
For this night that I've been riding herd
Is about to come to its end.

© September 2001, Jeff Burkhart

 

 

 

About Jeff Burkhart:

Jeff Burkhart was born and raised in Texas.  His cowboy life started as a
young boy in the rodeo arenas surrounding Fort Worth.  As the years passed
Jeff continued to ride saddle bronc horses and stay connected with cowboy
life -- breaking and training horses, working in the cattle industry and
later on as a wrangler on guest ranches in Texas.  He moved to Arizona in
October of 1999 to work at the Lazy K Bar Ranch in Tucson.  Even though he
had been writing poetry for several years, his work on the guest ranches
gave him the opportunity to bring the cowboy's way of life to the attention
of "city slickers" through his poetry.  His relationships with folks from
all walks of life and his continued interest in rodeo and ranching keep him
connected to the "cowboy philosophy" that continues to be his way of life.

 

If That Ol' Tack Could Talk
by Jeff Burkhart

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