Cowboy Poetry

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

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Category: Cowboy Poetry

Too Crowded

Audio Recordings, Cowboy Poetry, Ranch Life, Travel / August 13, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

My folks took some time off in the sixties
from their Saskatchewan ranching and
traveled down through South Texas

One day they stopped to talk to an
old cowboy sittin and a wittlin
on a rickety ranch porch

When he found out where they were from he said
“Say – do you know a man up there
by the name of Bill Prior?”

They said “Yes, he’s an old bachelor who lives up
past our north pasture, why do you ask?”

“Well” he said, “about 1928 Bill and I are out
lookin for some strays when we see another rider
coming over the furthest hill”

Bill said to me, “It’s gettin too damn crowded
down here, I’m heading for Canada”

“He turned his horse North and I haven’t
seen him since”

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Thinking back with fondness to the Cowboy Poetry Gathering that used to be held about this time of year in Pincher Creek. Sadly no longer going, but it is in our memories and poetry still.

Mid June and Cowboy Poets back in town
voices hoarse from long winter’s silence

And a thousand and more are here to hear
for the poets have been listening all year

Listening to the cattle and the coyotes
and the Northern Lights at nights

And they have been reminded
and being reminded they remember
and remembering they come here to remind

And just listening we remember
and unwind

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Don’t Worry Mate

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cowboy Poetry, Cows, Ranch Life, Travel / May 20, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

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The Old Blue Planet / Blue Roan

Audio Recordings, Cowboy Poetry, Environment / April 22, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Happy Earth Day

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Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cowboy Poetry, Cows, Farm, Poems about Poetry, Ranch Life / April 6, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

This is not the poetry of pulling calves
in a cold wind and a foot or so of spring snow
with only a vest and a bottle of rye
to keep you dry

This
is the poetry
of that calf that would have died
standing on shaky legs
to drink warm milk
from the cow that would have died

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Prairie Chicken

Audio Recordings, Cowboy Poetry, Nature, Ranch Life / tagged Birds, Survival / April 5, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

I came up through the valley where the homesteaders had tried to make a go of it for a few years, past the tin cans and other evidence of their short stay trying to rust itself back into the ground. Up over the crest of the hill where the Indians had lived for centuries with no more evidence than the weathered rocks of tepee rings

It was spring and I stumbled upon what they may have seen for
centuries, the mating ceremony of about twenty five or thirty grouse. They didn’t see or hear me and I stopped about ten yards away and watched (although my mother might not have thought it proper)

The hens ran around, heads down and tails up in unbashful invitation while the cocks puffed up the air bags in their chests and drummed their challenge

They looked handsome and brave in their posturing and beckoning and their readiness for reckoning and the fights were on, straight on and straight up with spurs and feathers flying

It was vicious but pure
Not a cockfight for the amusement of the bloody-minded, but a way to see that only the strongest would sire the little broods that would have to survive the hawks, and the snakes, and the weather; and all the dangers of a land where it takes a great deal of courage
– just to be a chicken

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Swearing Off

Audio Recordings, Cowboy Poetry, Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / April 4, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The 2019 Austin International Poetry Festival starts today! A warm welcome to all the incoming presenters and participants. This year Cowboy Poetry is making its debut at the festival with workshops by John Legacy and Steve Brooks on Saturday April 6th at the Learning Center at the Holiday Inn Midtown in Austin. Check www.AIPF.org for details.

The story was told by my old friend Bill
about a time when he was four
well maybe a little less, maybe a little more

Seems he’d been rubbin’ up against some boys in town
and learned some language that made his momma frown
His folks tried about everything from soap on down
but the lessons they were pouring in just didn’t stay down

Finally they said, now Billy my boy
the decision we’re makin’ gives us no joy
Because generally we like you, and you’re pretty good with your chores
but there’s no room on this ranch for language like yours

So, though it’s sure to make us grieve
we’ve packed your bag, and you’ll have to leave
They peeked through the curtains as he walked down the lane
with Dad remindin’ Mom that some lessons have pain

Billy stood at the road for 20 minutes or more
then slowly trudged back and knocked on the door
They slipped from the window and opened it slow
he said

“where in the hell am I supposed to go?”

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Motherin Up

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cowboy Poetry, Cows, Ranch Life, Relationships / tagged Rebound / April 1, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Sometimes you loose a cow
sometimes you loose a calf
you wrap the orphan in the dead calf's skin and the mother takes her in like kin
gold enough there for a country song it's a hurting song - you can sing along about true love died and true love gone and fooling yourself just long enough to keep on keeping on

This year the Austin International Poetry Festival is offering Cowboy Poetry workshops featuring John Legacy and Steve Brooks, hosted by Neil Meili and Connie Lane Williams – Workshops are Saturday April 6 at 9am and 11am – at the Learning Center – Holiday Inn Midtown, Austin. Visit www.aipf.org for more details

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