A Life Untamed (Cowboy Poetry)

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Sitting here watching the thermometer hover at zero degrees today brought to mind the toughness and spirit of the cowboys who used to drive the massive cattle herds to market rain, sleet or snow in the old west.  Then I caught myself, because contemporary cowboys are still working the massive cattle herds no matter what mother nature throws their way.

This cowboy poem of mine is dedicated to cowboys past and present and was published in 2005 by the good folks at CowboyPoetry.com.

A Life Untamed (by Lincoln Rogers, 2005)

Dedicated to the working cowboy – past and present

The western trails bore Longhorn,
Over oceans of grass Plain,
And Cowboys rode like captains,
Through the waves of sun and rain.

4-inch brims and rowelled spurs,
Along with chaps and Latigo,
Matching leather on face and saddle,
Of a seasoned, working pro.

Some say the era of the Cowboy,
Is but a faded dream at best,
But that independent spirit,
Remains the heartbeat of the West.

Miles removed from concrete jungles,
On open vistas kissed by sun,
Modern Cowboys ride the range,
Just like those days the West was won.

So word and song is raised in honor,
To everyone who bears the flame;
Who stokes the fire of admiration,
For a life no one will tame.

© 2005, Lincoln Rogers
This poem may not be reprinted or reposted without the author’s written permission.

Have a great day and don’t let your horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

Check out Lincoln’s online gallery of Fine Art Photography.

Honorable Mention (Cowboy Poetry)

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badge, bat masterson, billy the kid, cattle, cattle drive, cowboy, cowboy poetry, cowboys, cowpokes, fine art photography, honor, jesse james, lawmen, lincoln rogers, old west, Pard, poem, poems, poetry, ranch, range, respect, saddle, west, western, wyatt earp

I thought I’d leave you with a cowboy poem I wrote back in 2003 and which was published online by the good folks at CowboyPoetry.com, the best dad-gum cowboy poetry website in the world.

Honorable Mention (by Lincoln Rogers, 2003)

I hear the name of “Cowboy,”
Thrown about the world today.
By the sneer on those who say it,
It ain’t respect they aim to pay.

Their voices drip with insult,
As they mock those of the West.
The ones in times of trouble,
Who weren’t afraid to face a test.

Every time I hear the term,
It does remind me of those men.
Sweat and blood spilled on the earth,
Before they’d saddle up again.

There were lawmen with a badge,
Like Wyatt Earp and Masterson.
Or Jesse James and Billy the Kid,
Two outlaw heroes on the run.

But the image I can’t shake,
Its picture branded in my mind.
Is horse and rider on the trail,
Through day and night and storm unkind.

Those ‘pokes did work I can’t imagine,
Riding mounts close as a brother.
Running cattle through the plains,
And lookin’ out for one another.

I’ve read their tales and history,
And I believe the words are true.
Men tough enough to work the range,
Were not the many but the few.

So when you speak that sacred title,
About a Pard with boots and hat.
To honor those who rode before us,
Make sure you smile when you say that.

Have a great day and don’t let your horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

You can find Lincoln’s online Fine Art Photography here