1-31-07

I have been working on a new poem. Seems some of you enjoy them, so here it is. I got the idea for this from the rocky hill that lies north east of our house. I have always loved that spot on this ranch. It’s the same hill that is in the picture on the front of the horse page on the website. Let me know what you think. 🙂

I tried to lay it out so that people would read it like I would. Please read it out loud, as this type of poetry is meant to be heard and not read. Thanks.

rock on a hill

there’s a sandstone outcropping
on a hill by a creek
resisting the slow erosion
of natures careless whims
it has been a silent witness
to the passing of ages
watching and listening
to the praire’s soft hymns

an indian once stood
on this wind roughened rock
as he prayed to his god
for his tribes way of life
with alien, guttural
beseeching tone of voice
for his tribe, his land
his children and wife

a trapper once paused
in the shade of this slope
bellied down tight
in the grass and the dirt
as he peeked over the rock
embedded in the soil
trying to ignore
the bloody stain on his shirt

a soldier once climbed
to the crest of this hill
reclined on the rock
seeking rest for his bones
while listening to his troops
by the creek down below
wearily setting up pickets
and tents with hushed tones

a cowboy paused
at the ridge of this crest
scanned all, from horizon
to the rock down below
looking for the cattle
that pay his meager wage
leaving his tired cow horse
to stretch and to blow

on occasion a rancher
will come to this rock
he rests and reflects
on this vast mystery
ponders on who all
may have come to this spot
feels tied to the thread
of a land’s history

I ran onto a feller I hadn’t seen for awhile at the Stockshow yesterday. He and I were talking about ranch roping and he told me to post any news of upcoming roping’s in the area, as he reads this blog. So I guess that would be a good thing to do, if I can just remember.

I was surprised to learn that he had been reading this. If I don’t hear from people, I never know if what I am writing on this site is being read or not. So it’s always nice to get feedback. 🙂