I started out in Mexico with nothing much to say,
Dressed in my brother’s shirt and jeans – got sunburned on the way.
My name is Rosalita, but they knew me as Jose,
And I kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
I met her up in Texas, in a beat-up whiskey joint,
After seven days of drivin’, always drag and never point.
I told her I’s a cowgirl – didn’t want to disappoint –
But we kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
We spent our nights together underneath the prairie stars,
While hands that roped the cattle made sad music on guitars,
In kisses and in whispers we forgot the whiskey bars,
And we kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
And when the drive was over, and the beeves in the stockyard,
We cussed like blue-backed soldiers, for the drinkin’ it was hard.
I shot a man to death for double dealin’ one marked card,
So we kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
We bummed on board a freight train to Chicago in the night,
A thousand bucks upon my head because of that gunfight.
She whispered “Rosalita” from sundown until first light,
And we kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
I dressed up in a stolen suit, we walked like man and wife.
I made some money gamblin’ and got handy with a knife,
But we longed for the prairie stars, got tired of city life,
So we kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
It was in North Dakota that we met a Blackfoot girl,
Played tambourine for quarters, and danced in a spinnin’ whirl.
I minded us for movin’, but she stole my Texas Pearl,
And I kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
So when I got to Calgary I rode in the Stampede –
A girl will take a buckin’ bronco in her time of need –
They said I shot a Mountie and it was a wicked deed,
So I kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
I went on up the Yukon trail in search of yellow gold.
I lived just like an Eskimo when winter snow got cold,
And, somewhere west of Dawson, realised that I’d grown old,
But I kept on, kept on travellin’ north.
I wish I was in Texas underneath the prairie sky,
To hear her whisper “Rosalita” as the stars spin by.
Maybe I’ll take a southern trail some day before I die,
Or I’ll keep on, keep on travellin’ north.
My soul lives under Texas skies where cattle trails are long,
My mind is set on headin’ south where surely I belong,
My heart is with a Texas girl, her kisses, and her song,
But I’ll keep on, keep on travellin’ north.
Yes I’m the Northward Traveller; for ever and a day
My eyes are on the polar stars, my feet are on the way
That winds towards the Northern lights. The folk who know me say
That I’ll keep on, keep on travellin’ north
The South is for the desert sun, the shining Rio Grand’,
The West is for the tumblweed, the sagebrush, and the sand,
The East is for the lawyers who condemn you out of hand,
So I’ll keep on, keep on travellin’ north...
Yes I’ll keep on, keep on travellin’ north…
In a list
- Bad Salads! • next in list
- Wee yellow vases • next in list
- My American Voice • next in list
- Sketch Book Poetry • next in list
A contest entry
- Cowgirl Rheea's Cowboy and Cowgirl poetry. by Rheea and Sagerider by Sagerider.
3000 points, ended March 30, 2008, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The American Dream Winklings Contest #98 by Lyndon.
8000 points, ended August 5, 2008, 21 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - #185 for Winklings & all friends of Winklers by Lyndon.
2100 points, ended October 11, 16 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - CELEBRATE 17 NOVEMBER- FOR AWARD-WINNING POEMS OF THE PAST YEAR by Vera Rich.
700 points, ended November 25, 94 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
Comments
1 - 38 of 38
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Has the feel of a good old fashioned western.This could be turned into a song.A ue for someone to make another film so that they can use your poem as the Theme
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This wonderful penning put me in mind of the song by Willie Nelson, "Pancho and Lefty", although (obviously) from a slightly different point of view. I just watched the movie "Wyatt Earp" again last night and this was made more vivid with its remnant memories of the Old West even more firmly ensconced in my mind. Your flow and rhyme is always impeccable and well worth further study for those who do not often write in this style. Your sense of storytelling is impressive, as well. Good luck in the contest, Sweetie.
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I love the flow of this song I could not get a beat to it though. I think some parts run on a bit but other than that this was very well put together. Thank you for reading my work that means a lot to me SH
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The beat is a consistent:
di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH
di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH
di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH-di-dah di-DAH
dah-dah-DAH-DAH DAH-DAH di-di-di-DAH
Each verse has this rippling through it, there are three levels of syllabic stress. You can look at it this way - it's a song. I had a kind of medium-paced, mournful C&W tune running through my head as I wrote it.
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Very good story weaving within the rhymes. I like the take on South, East, and West as they drive the narrator North, even though he longs in part for other regions.
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Thanks Steve. The narrator's a "she" by the way - several of my poems have this sexual ambiguity in them. I conceived the poem originally as a kind of "lesbian Brokeback Mountain", but it became more of a symbolic journey through Western icons, a story of a wandering soul.
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A very good story.
It kept me guessing how far north she was going to travel before she had to head south.
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Bravo!
Well...I've read many a cowboy hootenanny-shoot'em-all-dead poem in my time, but this one definitely takes the cake! (Maybe you should send it to KC Chambers?!).
Great effort and a lovely, galloping meter to take your reader on the trail ever northward.
It would be wonderful set to music!
Excellent taste for the judges to award you the Godl for this entry. Well done.
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Forgive my ignorance bu K C Chambers isn't a name that is instantly recognisable to me.
I have (or my agent has) in fact sent this to the all-girl "killbilly" band Baskery, as potential lyrics. www.baskery.com
Thank you for your praise.
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A
well won! I came back to read yet again. This is the kind of story that makes western life come alive in our minds. I am clapping once again.
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This is exceptional poetry! A very engaging rhythm and rhyme that carries the story from start to end. A great storyline. As other comments have alluded to, it reminds me of Robert Service somewhat. A very enjoyable read.
Rory
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A'Ruairidh Mor, tapadh leat mo charaid.
One of these days I'll go back through all the comments left on my poetry and list all the poets I have been compared to. It's a bit overhwelming. Thank you - I think - for citing Robert Service (do I have the right guy - "The Shooting of Dan McGrew"?).
I'm glad you liked it.
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It was indeed a compliment, as Robert Service is my alltime favorite poet. You do have the right man...The Shooting of Dan McGrew, Spell of the Yukon, The Cremation of Sam McGee...all wonderful story-poetry.
I'm uncertain of the Gaelic quote, but I recognize Rory and I think my friend.... -
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("Hi Big Rory, thanks buddy")
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Oops forgot these.
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I loved your take on the prompt, it has that old-west-ballad feel to the story yet it is sung by a girl passing herself off as a man. That happened in the west, it was safer to be a man than a woman, more work opportunities were available too.
"The South is for the desert sun, the shining Rio Grand’,
The West is for the tumblweed, the sagebrush, and the sand,
The East is for the lawyers who condemn you out of hand,
So I’ll keep on, keep on travellin’ north...
Yes I’ll keep on, keep on travellin’ north…"
Very strong from beginning to end, Best of luck in the contest!
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Well, girl
This is some poem. Reminds me of a Scottish-Canadian poet up in cold parts.
I'd love to travel north with you but travelin' south is my hobby.
I shall not give a poetic critique because your ballad is obvious in its parodic way.
Suffice it to say that the creativity, which more or less seems spontaneous, is actually masterful.
Danni.
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Murphy beaucoup.
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You must have been a cowgirl in another life, what a story! and that's mostly how they did it when the west was young, just rambling around looking for a place where life was better I guess. I love it!
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Jesus Mairi, I live in Calgary! This is one wild rodeo ride, and as you say, very Dylanesque in his Durango balladeer days. Great stuff.
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I thought you would like this one!
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This is a true ballad if I've ever seen one!
Potent in its imagery and rugged feel.
I felt the freedom wash-over me as I made my
way through a journey upon a page. Blue -
Earnestly Provocative
This is indee a freestyle ballad, and I have a better grasp of the critique you gave me of Long John Silver, which perhaps is a bit too rigid as such; I love this work and it opened for me the mind of a woman who is punisihing herself for loving to excess someone who cannot return the intensity of her desires; the rythem is excellent and the lines merge into the meaning without letting the reader down in the end... it nags on my mind as to where she ends up finally: maybe she is like the wandering Jew?... DW
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I think you have grasped what I was trying to do exactly. That nagging in your mind is just what I intended. I wanted this to be a trip through a set of North American icons, a pilgrimage through wild-west imagery, without necessarily having regard to history. Yes, like the "wandering Jew". Thank you.
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I'm glad your comment on my poem led me to check out yours. What an absolutely beautiful ballad this is. Your meter and rhyme are perfect as is the story line. I love nothing more than a well written ballad and this certainly fits the bill. I'm amazed it didn't take a trophy.
If you're interested please check out my current contest. I'd love to have some well written poetry such as this entered into it
Ruth
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Hi Ruth. Well, I don't like saying so - and I have to admit that the kind judges here were both very complimentary about the piece - but I'm a little surprised too.
Thank you for the praise. I'll ertainly check out your contest.
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amazing and it feels so real
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It flowed... it FELT real... it just went on and on. Thank you for the opportunity of writing this, the inspiration of the contest.
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Bloody Hell a yank with a brogue ...
Magical poetry that tells a story with a message that unwinds and answers its own questions at the end and the author's notes clarify and confirm. Again, the Mairi 'voice' comes through and I can only pu it down to the traits of a true natural poet with loads of talent yet waiting for proper recognition, even though the process has begun. I loved this and it is a great write that I will return to and will go into my favourites book.
Bazza
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It kinda rolled out, Bazza. By chance I happened on this contest, and the idea grew. I would really love someone to set this to music. Glad you liked it!
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I don't think this is "wierd" I really liked it. You have displayed your gift as a story teller as well as a talented poet. Verse after verse ouened a new image and chapter in my mind. Great work!
Love,
Amera♥
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It kinda rolled out of me, hon - I couldn't stop it. Glad you liked it.
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Great story, fantastic rhyme and meter. I really like it.
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I'm glad, Sagerider. Thank you.
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Well Dundee is unarguably North but I have a suspicion the rest is not exactly biographical. It is however wonderful! I wish you a life under the Texas skies.
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Jeff, it beats me why I went in for a Cowgirl contest, but I just did. I am glad you like it.
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that is both easy and obvious, you hadn't done one before!
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True.
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