Welcome inside the dappled mind of a wandering soul...together we can journey through history or spend a quiet moment surrounded by the splendor that is the Rocky Mountains. We can reflect on the past or anticipate the future. See what I see, feel what I feel. Emotions are the colors that paint an otherwise black and white world. Through these pages its hoped that your day will be painted with a bit more color from my rainbow word-brush.
I enjoy poetry about real life experiences and tend to draw upon my own experiences when writing. My writing tends to be raw and basic, don't look for intricate metaphors or hidden messages behind most of my writing, as it simply doesn't exist.
I was born into a ranching and rodeo family, have lived the life and while some of my work centers around the cowboy lifestyle, I do not consider myself a "Cowboy Poet". I'll leave that genre to those with a better handle on meter. I do write about real life - the beauty, the hardships and the laughter.
I am an accountant by trade, and not so redneck as one might stereotype me to be, but I am fiercely proud of my country background and strive to portray the cowboy and others in real life situations and with real life humor and humility.
I love history, and often write pieces that tell of historical events or people. In particular, I love to read and study on Native American history and culture. I also love Nature, and write of her beauty and powers often.
When my time has passed, and my breath has silenced, the mountain winds can carry my ashes over this wonderful land that I call home. I am Canadian by birth, Albertan by choice and a lifelong resident of the Rocky Mountains by destiny.
I was influenced at a young age by the writings of Robert Service, Banjo Patterson and Robert Frost, and therefore developed a love for rhyme and rhythm. A lot of my work tends to rhyme, although I do try to write some free verse and prose as well.
As Service proclaims, "For God-sake don't call me a poet,
For I've never been guilty of that."
A Verseman's Apology
by Robert Service
Alas! I am only a rhymer,
I don't know the meaning of Art;
But I learned in my little school primer
To love Eugene Field and Bret Harte.
I hailed Hoosier Ryley with pleasure,
To John Hay I took off my hat;
These fellows were right to my measure,
And I've never gone higher than that.
The Classics! Well, most of them bore me,
The Moderns I don't understand;
But I keep Burns, my kinsman before me,
And Kipling, my friend, is at hand.
They taught me my trade as I know it,
Yet though at their feet I have sat,
For God-sake don't call me a poet,
For I've never been guilty of that.
A rhyme-rustler, rugged and shameless,
A Bab Balladeer on the loose;
Of saccharine sonnets I'm blameless,
My model has been - Mother Goose.
And I fancy my grave-digger griping
As he gives my last lodging a pat:
"This guy wrote McGrew;
'Twas the best he could do" . . .
So I'll go to my maker with that.
Alas! I am only a rhymer,
I don't know the meaning of Art;
But I learned in my little school primer
To love Eugene Field and Bret Harte.
I hailed Hoosier Ryley with pleasure,
To John Hay I took off my hat;
These fellows were right to my measure,
And I've never gone higher than that.
The Classics! Well, most of them bore me,
The Moderns I don't understand;
But I keep Burns, my kinsman before me,
And Kipling, my friend, is at hand.
They taught me my trade as I know it,
Yet though at their feet I have sat,
For God-sake don't call me a poet,
For I've never been guilty of that.
A rhyme-rustler, rugged and shameless,
A Bab Balladeer on the loose;
Of saccharine sonnets I'm blameless,
My model has been - Mother Goose.
And I fancy my grave-digger griping
As he gives my last lodging a pat:
"This guy wrote McGrew;
'Twas the best he could do" . . .
So I'll go to my maker with that.
I am always looking for ways to improve my writing and would appreciate any constructive feedback on my poetry. I promise I won't be offended.
My 1st attempt at self-publishing
- Last seen 51 minutes ago. Member since March 31, 2006.
- I'm a lyric diamond poet for 2489 comments.
- My mood is , and quote is "I've always considered a walk in the mountains as the equivalent of attending church." .
- I am a 42 year old man (Canada)
- When I'm not writing, I'm wishing I was..
- Visit my homepage at www3.telus.net/public/duce915/roryducehome.htm
- I support the site as a gold member
- I have 2,489 comments, 6 contests
My Lists
My Poetry
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45 lines, 13 comments, August 23. In Native American, History
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The Moon over Gemini blinks
When ghost owl wings stir clouded skies -
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55 lines, 14 comments, June 28. In Personal
My Stories
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Show all at storywrite
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Precariously he sat on the rusted tailgate of the old green ford. Dust from a road not quite there caked his lips and nostrils as the truc
Visitor Book
1 - 2 of 2
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jjbreunig3 : Congrats on your book... on August 29Congrats on your book; having achieved the same goal of self-publishing, I can fully appreciate what it takes to get the job done. --Joe
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dericlee on July 20Nice hat...but a nicer dapple!
From the only two times I made it as far as the Stampede, I can tell the rest of the world, HELL yes, they make cowboys in Canada!
I can see I'm gonna hafta go through your stuff...meanwhile, (though I hardly ever use a 'Hello' to promote) I notice you're also a fan of RW Service. You might get a kick out of http://allpoetry.com/poem/247808
