I once had me an old grey nag,
a real miserable beast.
She was cow-hocked and roman-nosed,
very ugly to say the least.
She was dumb as a block of salt,
too lazy to be of any use,
that lousy example of horseflesh
was just a flea bitten Cayuse.
The men would never envy me
when saddling her up for the day,
but I’d swallow pride and do it;
Oh God! How I hated that grey!
Then one day started quite poorly,
soon things took a turn for the worse.
She pitched me off in front of friends;
damn, did that ever make me curse!
Evil witch, spawned from the devil!
It's time I learned you some manners!
By God, you pull this stunt again
I will ship you to the canners!
Mounting again, I felt quite brave,
determined to have my own way.
But then that nag went plumb crazy.
Oh God! How I hated that grey!
I held on tightly to the horn
as she ducked her head and then blew,
kicking, twisting like a demon
then back into the air I flew.
I softly cursed under my breath
then I locked my eyes upon hers.
“I’ll fix you good this time, bitch!”
I said as I strapped on my spurs.
I remounted for the third time,
but this time I started to pray.
I threw my bronc saddle on her,
Oh God! How I hated that grey!
She exploded out from under me,
my spurs barely raking her hide.
I lasted but three quick seconds
'fore landing hard on my backside.
Now, I am a pretty fair hand,
been known to ride the rankest horse,
but never in my life was I thrown
and slammed to the earth with such force!
She hurt me from top to bottom,
my mind said to call it a day.
This cowboy's pride was torn to shreds,
Oh God! How I hated that grey!
Clearing my head after the fall,
my heart began to fill with hate.
Then suddenly I got this notion,
call it destiny, luck or fate.
I challenged all my compadres
with a one hundred dollar bet.
I swore the man who could ride her
had not graced this country yet!
One by one they tried to ride her
for their pride and for my pay.
She threw them all and now I’m rich.
Oh God, how I love that grey!
Author notes
Contest option 5.
As with all my poetry, I appreciate constructive feedback so that I can improve as a writer. Please give it to me straight, I'm a big boy, I can take it.
In a list
A contest entry
- Cowboy Poetry by Maybe Anastasia.
390 points, ended March 16, 2007, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Cowgirls or Cowboys and Horses 1200 points by Rheea.
1200 points, ended November 20, 2007, 14 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Lol
This one was rather funny and ironic. I liked the poem, however some seemed a bit forced. Oh yeah and just so you know ENLISH riding beats WESTERN, lol. But no worries that wont affect the scores. Best of luck! -
I had to burst out laughing at this one..I never hated Lou but I sure came close when training her she thought her barn name was @#$%^Lou and I am not a cussing woman she was a thinking horse looking at an object like a tree and thinking I can take her under that and knock her off . she was a hot horse and a trip
like this gray=)she had not the fight or flight just the fight. -
OMG, killing myself laughing
My gosh this brings back memories of my old nag, Claudia. She was a pain, oh I meant to say paint . But I can truly sympathize with the story behind this. Claudia once knocked ran over all the mailboxes down my road while trying to get my aunt off her back. She threw me 6 times the first time I tried to ride her. She laid down in a canal with me riding her, then the next day she threw me and a friend against a log. Oh, I remember she used to like to stand on my feet and eat oats out of the feed bucket. Hateful wretch. I could sit here remembering all of the things she used to do. I was glad to be rid of the "bit**" honestly. Sorry to ramble on so, but I simply adored the way you turned this around at the end to say that you loved her for making you rich. I should have thought of that about Claudia. . Excellent write you have here. Good luck in the contest.
becca -
this is really something
the humor the art, the unexpected, all there...reminds of the folk song "stewball" i like this a lot; very well done...PK
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I love this poem. It brings a new lite to cowboys. I like how you repeated then changed! it makes the poem flow nice.
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Oh, this is so good and written in the grand manner of cowboy poetry. You told a great yarn, and had a catchey rhyme throughout your poem. An excellent poem!
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Is This True?
What a turn-around! You can really spin a yarn. My grandpa would have loved to sit around the old camp-fire with you!
Azlyn
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Rory, you sat the storyline up perfectly in this. I can't see much tamperin' needin' to be done. I think I would just let this one stand. I see you found a number of others who can relate to the entire story. I could picture the whole thing as you told it and really enjoyed the end of it. I needed a little light heartedness after the spider thingy. You made my day. Sorry to get back to you so late. Was out of town for a few days. Be well my friend and keep educating this city boy on the life he will never know. RC
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This is wonderfully written and has a great flow to it... it's all perfect and I liked the repeating line of hating the grey... especially where you turned it around at the last line...
VERY entertaining poetry... LOVE the mountains in the background!!!! You live in a beautiful country!!! I'm JEALOUS!
I really like this poem...
~Melissa
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hmmmmm...
change of thought...I think I like it either way! Great write
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"This cowboy's pride was torn to shreds"
You might want to take out "was" as it seemed to read better without it...just a thought
This was not only entertaining, but quite an awesome write. It had a great rhythmic flow and was full of incredible imagery allowing me to step into the moment...or should I say "fall"? Ha! Bravo! ~Tia
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I like the way your works draws in the reader captures their attention and you hold that to the end. This is an good example for a longish write yet every stanza just flows on from the last and into the next. That is not always easy as the length grows to keep the same flow and feel. Very nicely crafted....I was on the side of the grey i must admit and the spirit you portrayed she had....thank you now this is one hell of a way to start off a sunday morning with a
and a damn fine poem.
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very humorous
I had a horse like this!!! Only he was a gelding, always thought he was getting even for that surgery, lol. You did a great job of expressing your frustration, pain and anger. And then the climax, proving that it was not just you! For as we see throughout this, it wasn't so much the horse as your pride. Great job on this one.
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OMG! LOL, now this reminded me of "strawberry Roan" for a bit. It brought back the childhood memories of that song and what it meant to me. You did a wonderful job with the twist at the end. I could not help but laugh while reading it, remebering a crazy Arabian I inherited once, did not take me long to figure out why they were so eger to give her up. She was spooked by her own shadow, so there was no such thing as a peaceful ride, for I always had to be on my toes ready for her surprises. Though she only threw me once, that was more then enough. LOL
Some or just born plan stuborn or crazy, I do swear.
Great job as always. Thank you for the giggle and memories.
Always a pleasure to see something new from you!
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lol, Strawberry Roan was always a favorite of mine, in some way it probably did influence this write! Glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks again,
Rory
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Excellent Rory Though I have to admit a strong feeling toward the old Grey mare.Never did like to see wild animals tamed.( they lose something)I guess you can count yourself lucky to have a lady who made you money and not cost you Wonderful rhyme and flow a most enjoyable read Thank you
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A great story about you and your old grey nag! I liked the rhyme, it flowed well!
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Brilliant
Got one just like this myself!!! wouldn't trade him though, he's been the cause of many a brave riders downfall. Love him to bits...Can really appreciate this great write.. Brought back many smiles so thanks for sharing...Glad I'm not the only one who has a clever horse....mal
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That was Great
This poem kept me reading till the end. I know exactly what it feels like to be thrown off a horse... And to have your pride torn down when you think your the best around... Anyways glad you got rich off of your grey!
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thanks for reading and commenting. As for being thrown off, my dad always told me I had to be bucked off 100 times before I could call myself a cowboy. When I was a kid, I actually started keeping count lol. I'm now a cowboy many times over lol Thanks also for the applause, much appreciated.
Rory
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haha. This is quite cute and well done! I love the little twist at the end. A cowboy and his nag rarely get on.
I love cowboy poetry; it's a great genre. This made me go look up the lyrics to the old song which my parents used to sing and I must admit, I do not yet know to this day what a whiffle tree is! Thanks for this dose of nostalgia and it you enjoy this kind of writing, you would be a perfect candidate for my latest contest on ballads so check it out!
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haha, I love cowboy poetry as well. I grew up with it at all the rodeos and fairs I entered. FYI, a whiffle tree is the bar that attaches to the cart/plow/wagon that is then pulled by a horse/ox/team....Thanks for your comments and applause, much appreciated.
Rory
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Clever
I like this one. It shows not just the event but how we can change our opinions on something depending on how it serves us. You did yourself proud mixing humor with form. I like the repetition as well.
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I so enjoyed this. I recognised the title so had to see what was underneath it and I wasn't disappointed at all.
Just like a female though, you call her names and treat her roughly and you get trodden into the dirt rofl
Loved this.
Vonnie
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thanks for the comments and applause, much appreciated....you're right, women always seem to get the better of me lol. Thanks again,
Rory
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