Tex Tumbleweed
A Cowboy's Lament
Jo Lynne Kirkwood
Lessons in Love
McCloud (Davey Lee
George)
Cowboy in Love
Clouds
Ageless Beauty Fair
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A Cowboy's Lament
(Can be sung to the tune of "Sweet Betsy From Pike")
Across Texas border in old Mexico
there was a cantina where we liked to go;
the whisky was cheap and the music was loud,
so right after payday, they drew a big crowd.
A sweet senorita by name of Loree
caused my heart to melt when she looked right at me.
When I got the courage to ask her to dance,
she smiled at me sweetly and jumped at the chance.
From that very moment, I think we both knew,
a lifetime together was what we'd pursue.
But destiny dealt us a very hard blow
when I was "called out" by the gunfighter, Joe.
Loree ran between us to stop the gun fight,
I then watched in horror at this fatal sight.
The body that crumbled was my dear Loree,
she'd taken the slug that Joe had meant for me.
My single shot left Joe stone-dead in the street;
I'd won the gun fight but I still felt defeat.
The one special thing that had meant most to me,
I'd now lost forever, my precious Loree.
Now I never go into old Mexico
when payday comes 'round and the cow hands all go;
I ride with the wind on this vast, lone prairie
and I hear it whisper the name of Loree.
And now and forever, my fate it shall be,
to hear the wind whisper the name of Loree . . .
© 2001 Tex Tumbleweed
Read more of Tex Tumbleweed's poetry here.
Lessons in Love
Les, he come into Pearl’s coffee shop,
and engaged her in conversation
about the merits and drawbacks of personal ads
in resolvin’ romance inclinations.
“These here,” he says, "is temptations.
A signed, undated blank check.
The ticket to what a man’s longin’ for,
laid out like a solitaire deck.”
And he unfolded the double-wide twelve columned spread
‘til it covered the whole top of the booth.
“These is answers to what fellers is prayin’ for.
Like reading scriptures and seein’ the truth.”
“Heck, Pearl,” Leslie drooled, “lookey right here.
Single female, financially able.
She’s just forty-seven, and looking for love.
Hot dang! And he slapped at the table.”
“Humph,” Pearl snorted. “You’re in for a shock.
This here’s just a paper, and them words is just talk.
Those lonely hearts women that writes out them ads
is likely wore out, or is lookin’ for lads
with a lot more to offer that what ever you got.
You might throw a wide loop, but a good catch you’re not!”
“Shucks,” Pearl continued, “The boys can attest
You ain’t much to see when you’re lookin’ your best.
You ain't shaved in a week, nor bathed, that's for sure.
There’s an aura about you of aged horse manure.
If your folks taught you manners at home or in school,
you’ve forgot what you learned, ‘cause you sound like a fool.
When you’re here the coffee takes on a new flavor.
There really ain’t much that speaks in your favor.”
By the time Pearl got finished a-settin’ him straight,
Les’s was doubtin’ his manhood, and cussin’ his fate.
His face was all pruney with deep consternation,
His whole outlook a study in quiet desperation.
“Why Pearl,” Leslie stammered, his pride sadly shaken,
“I don’t understand this position you’re takin’.
Gol-dangit,” he mumbled, feeling sheepish and sore,
“I guess I hadn’t figured I was doin’ so poor.
Since you think my company takes such sacrifice
I’ll just stay out of here. Thanks for the advice.”
“Oh, Les,” Pearl responded, feelin’ dismayed,
at seein Les so disturbed by her free-spoken tirade.
“That ain’t what I meant. I think you’re all right.
It’s just that you need detailing a mite.”
“You could cover that smell. Burma Shave would do much
to improve your whole outlook. New Levis and such
is easy to come by, just go to the store.
That one that sells new ones, not those that been wore.
But you got to clean up. And you’d better use soap.
Go down to the drugstore, get one on a rope
so’s it don’t slip away while you’re there in the shower.
Best ‘low time for that. It will take you an hour
to get rid of grime. And then when you’re done
You come on back. Shucks, Les, this might be fun.
I’ll give you some pointers on what ladies hold dear.
Now go on, get lost. I’m busy round here.”
Well, Les was embarrassed, but he knew deep inside
that what Pearl spoke was truth, and he had a tough hide
so he took her suggestions and bought him new duds,
and mastered the art of applyin’ soap suds.
And when he come back, in the late afternoon,
when that gal took a gander, she dang near swooned.
“Why, Les,” Pearl stuttered, “you clean up real good.
Who wudda thunk it. Guess I never would.”
“That’s nice,” Les responded, “now lets hear what you know
about talkin’ to women. The mail can be slow
and I want to find me an ad and respond to it quick
‘fore the good ones is gone. Lay it on thick.”
“Oh, yeah, Les,” Pearl sighed, and reached into her skirt.
“She likely won’t answer, but I doubt it will hurt.
I wrote down this address after you left,
to try out for practice, which you needed, I guessed.
Least, if you know how to write. With you I can’t tell.”
“I can write,” Leslie scowled. “It’s just I can’t spell.”
And he snatched for the female that Pearl had said
she’d chose for his practice. And he liked what he read:
“Single white female woman
guaranteed to knock off your socks.
Send all inquiries to the referenced address
care of the post office box.”
And now the boys are brushing their hats off,
tuning fiddles and rosinin’ bows.
Got their wives baking pastries, getting their hair done,
gossipin’ and buyin’ clothes
‘Cause Les, he’d followed directions,
been where he was told at a quarter past eight,
and his heart did a flip-flop when the gal of his dreams
had been waitin’ at her front gate.
Since secretly he’d been admirin’
this particular girl for her charms,
it was quite reassurin’ to discover at last
just how well she fit in his arms.
And if you’ve figured out the cowboy’s lead lady
you got good intuition, I guess.
Yep. For sometime now Pearl’d been a figurin’
she’d be willin’ to settle for Les.
© 2000 Jo Lynne Kirkwood
Romance
Jo Lynne Kirkwood
Jo Lynne Kirkwood is a Lariat Laureate. Read more of her poetry here.
Cowboy in Love
Ya got a smile thet's big as Texas,
an' jest as sunny bright.
Yer eyes is purty as all outdoors;
all sparkly like the night.
Yer hair is soft as a feather bed.
It floats on summer air
like a billowin' cloud above the range,
an' honey, I do declare!
thet you've stole my heart strings clean away,
from whar I had them hid,
to keep them safe from love's wild ways,
an' then thet thing you did
when ya rode yer hoss up to the barn;
jest the way you hopped right down,
with a look and a shake of yer ridin' skirt,
wal, the bobwar I'd strung 'round
my heart to keep it safe from wemmin's ways
jest fell to pieces then,
an' now thet I've seen the likes of you,
I'm in love all over ag'in.
© 2001 McCloud (Davey Lee George)
Come set by me, down on this log;
now look out o're the plains,
to whar I'm pointing at right now,
an' watch the fallin' rain.
It's odd the way some clouds can do;
they come and go alone,
to whar it's dry as powder hyar,
but pouring down below.
Now take thet big'un over thar,
so white an' marvelous,
you'd think it'd be the one to watch;
the one to bother us.
But it ain't full up to the brim
with water from afar,
like the flat an' sullen darker ones,
(like tipping up a jar).
An' too, them little ones up thar
close by the mountain peak,
they jest like to ride the wind
(they're so dry they near 'bout squeak).
But down thar near the winter pass,
whar the grass is green an' tall,
is whar the clouds all come the most,
whar we get the heavy fall.
Kin you see out beyond the clouds,
whar the sky is blue an' fair?
To whar the sunlight seems to spill
around most ever'whar?
Well, thet's the way I feel 'bout you,
when e're I hear yer name,
'cause you are like thet sky to me,
some ways, yer near the same.© 2002 McCloud (Davey Lee George)
Ageless Beauty FairThar's silver strandin' through yer hair, an' crow's feet etchin' too,
beside yer lovely broodin' eyes, though love comes shinin' through.
Around yer waist, once quite severe, now thickenin' is seen,
but it can only add to whut my love has always been.
Youthfulness still comes alive in ever' word you've spoke,
as aga'n yer eyes assay each word in compliment to 'smoke'
thet always comes along with fire, an' in yer special way
this applies to you as well, in ever'thing you say.
With whispers from yer full, sweet lips comes honey, like the comb,
thet disregardin' struggling bees, is stolen from their home.
Yer hands, with fingers worn a bit from life in constant stress,
still give yer touch a marvelous feel an' a pleasurable caress.
To know you like I've come to do is the answer to a prayer,
an' I'll cherish you forever more, my Lovely Beauty Fair.
© 2002 McCloud (Davey Lee George)
McCloud (Davey Lee George) is a Lariat Laureate runner up. Read more of his poetry here.
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