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Cowboy Poetry
A COWBOY STORY
Robert Atkin
Prologue: by a son
I stand here now, where once you stood
But that was nearly a hundred years ago
A mere child of ten years age
No one to love; no place to go
A skinny waif in threadbare clothes
A cardboard case clasped in your hand
An inner strength I can't comprehend
Cut adrift in this cold alien land
Charlie's story
A journey of five thousand miles
Traversed by ship and rail
Do I go on? Or do I give up?
Is this the start or the end of the trail?
But I am compelled to travel on
Driven by an inner voice
Which direction will I go?
This time it is “my” choice
I look around to choose my path
Follow the ruts of a wagon track
There is no magic nor premonition
I'm just keeping the wind at my back
Down this road I travel miles
Homes are few and far between
I feel the chill as twilight looms
This is a cold and lifeless scene
I spend the night in an old soddy barn
Shared with creatures I cannot see
My soul it quivers; my body shakes and shivers
I wonder; what will become of me
The dark is done and the morning sun
Peeks through a crack by the floor
I hear the sound of steps on the ground
A silhouette fills the door
“Who are you lad, where are you from?”
I hear a deep voice say
“Are you alone? Where is your home?
Have you run away?”
I am afraid but I must be brave
As my hunger pangs start to recur
I quash the fear, shed nary a tear
“I have no home or family; sir”
My journey to manhood had just begun
Helped by this man I did not know
I wondered as we rode along
“In this cold, God forsaken land, how could anything grow”
He and his family took me in
Gave sustenance and a place to sleep
Without a word spoken, my spirit was awoken
I worked hard to earn my keep
He taught me to sow, maintain and grow
Crops; to nourish both human and beast
To stay in tune with the earth,stars and moon
And rise with the sun in the east
Ah yes ; the horses and cows ; chickens and sows
He tutored me in animal care
To ride and to rope, never give up hope
My pay was small but it was fair
Ten years on his farm didn't do any harm
This culture I came to understand
Then came the day I counted my pay
At last!!! Enough to buy me some land
That didn't last long; the war came along
I left a new wife and new ranch behind
We defended the right, fought the good fight
For freedom for all of mankind
The battle was over I returned to my home
Bought up more acres for the cattle to roam
I cherished life's treasures, I cherished the joys
The love of my wife and two baby boys
No modern conveniences, just a good working ranch
Set our time by the sun , left nothing to chance
Over many years the ranch flourished and grew
Proving; if you work hard your dreams will come true
As in all ventures time marches by
And you cherish each coming of dawn
Your vibrance of youth now takes a rest
And your “git up” just got up and was gone
I'll not shed a tear as the end draws near
Of this life I loved so much
I knew from the start if you're true to your heart
You can better everything you touch.
Epilogue: by a son
The room was dim and quiet
As I stood at the end of his bed
He looked my way with that crooked smile
One last breath; Old Charlie was dead
I did not mourn his passing
Instead; I looked back on his life with joy
The greatest cowboy I ever knew
Molded from an English orphan boy
In Loving Memory of My Father Robert C. Atkin
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