Ridin' for the Brand - pipTalk Forums

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Gunslinger
Senior Member

since 1999-10-09

Posts 901
TX, USA

0 posted 2004-04-20 01:24 PM

I think of all the years,
And lonely miles which lie behind me.
A lot of brute-hard work, back when-
I was a younger man.

And how we would evaluate,
The man who worked beside me...
If he were just a hireling,
Or was riding for the brand.

We'd saddle long before the sun
Would top the east horizon...
And many times, well after dark,
We'd turn the ponies out.

Rain or shine, sleet or snow-
Work had a way of sizin'
And measurin' the man inside,
As well as that without.

If he would pull his share of work,
And never start complainin-
Breathe the trail dust of the drag,
And never cuss and moan.

His share of fencin', never shirk-
Nor balk when it was rainin'
He was the type of hand the boss,
Was likely to keep on.

That was the kind of man who made,
And shaped the place we live in.
Part and parcel with the place,
I call my native land.

If he could work from cain't to cain't-
And keep right on a givin'-
Friend, he was no hireling,
He was ridin' for the brand.

Decaflame
Senior Member

since 2001-05-11

Posts 1635

1 posted 2004-04-20 02:32 PM

An excellent man, then...
the ones that know.

Susan
Member Ascendant

since 2004-03-27

Posts 5104
walking the surreal

2 posted 2004-04-20 02:37 PM

Well written, well said. As a Western buff, I realy enjoyed this.

Susan

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

3 posted 2004-04-20 02:39 PM

I like to read of your cowboy days.
It's very intertsting.
Hugs,
Ethel

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

4 posted 2004-04-20 04:52 PM

Loved this one cowboy!
No body tells it like you! Noooobody.
~Hugs & Smiles, Nancy~

To have lived the dream of a love so true...
is to have seen a glimpse of heaven.

scorpio
Member Ascendant

since 2002-10-02

Posts 5178
right...there

5 posted 2004-04-20 08:14 PM

Those qualities carry over to many things John. And you're right when you say you can measure a man by what he does for the brand. Well done.

believe in what your heart feels...

Sadelite
Member Elite

since 2003-10-11

Posts 2519

6 posted 2004-04-20 08:24 PM

Rain or shine, sleet or snow-
Work had a way of sizin'
And measurin' the man inside,
As well as that without.

I liked your writing very much and agree. I remember when we were inducted into "COOL" when we were in school and earned our first blister on the monkey bars. (and since I've helped build my share of fences...) It worries me when many don't even know how to change a flat. Somehow we've got to ride for the "brand" Great cowboy poem. Looking forward to more.

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