LEE WILLIAMS

 

I Think We've Been Had

I once heard a tale about a real riding feat
Told by an old cowboy I happened to meet
It's about an old bull that no one could ride
The news finally spread o'er the range far and wide

They brought him to town, in off the ranch
Said here he is boys, I'll give ya'll a chance
The boss took out his roll, said I'll give ten to one
There aint a man around who can get the job done

The young bucks gathered from far and wide
Trying to hang their hooks in this old bull's hide
They'd last a few jumps then he'd go upon high
All you'd see between them was bright blue sky

This happened on Sunday, it was getting late
When a big black car pulled up to the gate
Out steps this gent, dressed up to the brim
Said he had a rider he'd brought out with him

We looked around and to our surprise
Stood this short skinny kid with pale blue eyes
A ten gallon hat and a shiney silk shirt
A green pair of leggings and a long leather quirt

We all had our laffs, then laid our bets down
They were all covered by this dude from town
The kid climbed aboard, it sure was a sight
The dude reached over and pulled the rope tight

The kid sat up, then yelled turn him out
The ox spun out like a big water spout
He bucked and he bellered, Tried all that he knew
But when he stopped dead we knew he was through

We couldn't believe he'd been rode by this lad
I turned and told them, I think we've been had
The kid jerked the hat off and fluffed up a curl
Damn, would you believe it, We'd been beat by a "GIRL."


© 1994, Lee Williams

Lee told us that this story "was told  to me by my grandad. It actually took place in Stanton, Texas around 1909 or 1910."

 

Texas

God bless this all so big and great
This beautiful land called the Lone Star State
From the panhandle plains, to its mountains high
Its desert lands, the bright blue sky
From the piney woods to the Rio Grand
Surely it was made by God's own hand

© Lee Williams

 

I Saw a Tear

He was there all alone
High on a hill
Overlooking the land
He stood very still

His hair was white
He was old and bent
To old to fight
His days ner spent

He thought of the days
When his people were free
They roamed the land
From sea to sea

They loved the land
The trees the sky
Mountain streams
The birds on high

As he turned to leave
And I drew near
On his witherd old face
I saw a tear

© 1991, Lee Williams

 

Lee tells us that the famous 1970's "Keep America Beautiful" television spot featuring Iron Eyes Cody inspired this poem. Lee says "This was a super intelligent man who made many movies. Whatever tribe he played he knew and spoke the dialect of that tribe. He said that in doing this, it was a tribute to Native Americans."  

Making a Hand

Up in the morning , before the dawn
Light the lamp, put the coffee on
Head for the barn, turn the chickens out
Check to see if my ol hoss is about
Pour some oats from the big oat bin
Open the gate and let him in
Back to the house to see if the coffee's done
Gonna have to hurry if I beat the sun
Finish my meal, clean the mess up
Maybe there's time for one more cup
Darned ol roosters already crowing
I've got to hurry, if I make a good showing
Saddle my ol hoss, head into the night
Got to get started before first light
Ride all day in the ol hot sun
Gotta keep going til the work's all done
I'll tell you it's great, living off the land
But it's a hell of a chore making a hand

© 1983, Lee Williams 

 

A Tribute To My Son

There was a young cowboy
That made quite a hand
He rode in the mountains
He's rode in the sand
There's been lots of times
When he damned near froze
No feeling in his hands
Numb to his toes
Burned to a cracklin
In the hot summer sun
Worked all day
Until the work was done
He could climb an ol mill
Stretch five miles of fence
There's not many like him
And there hasn't been since

For my son Buster

© Lee Williams 

in memory

he wasn't very tall
this man so complete
but in my minds eye
he stood seven feet

he could ride an ol bronc
on any given day
to show us how
in the old cowboy way

he'd work your tail off
from sun up til sun down
maybe once a month
he'd let you go to town

he was the kind of  fellow
to reach out a hand
take in a stray boy
and turn him into a man

no, he wasn't well off
he wasn't rich at all
but the wealth in his heart
was more than the rich can recall

as I write this ode to him
my memory with longings fill
I'm proud to call him granddad
this man "Bob Gill'

© 2002, Lee Williams 

Lee told us "My granddad started me cowboying when I was seven years old. I'm 64 now and I thank god every day for him."

This poem is included in our collection of 
poems about Cowboy Dads and Granddads

 

 

 

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