Come gather around compadres, this story will unfold
of horse thief moons and rifle fire and blood that was spilt cold.
Ride back through windswept coulees and the hoodoos of my mind
to that ol’ Milk River Ridge and the year of ’69.
Just north of the border, once you get past the Sweet Grass Hills,
the prairies level off to where the Milky water spills.
That ridge belonged to the Blackfoot, the coyotes and the Sioux
and though it was a stately place I was simply ridin’ through.
I bought supplies at Fort Benton, then rode north of Forty Nine
to trap for beaver and for mink across the Medicine Line.
From Montana into the Queen’s Land the whisky trade prevailed;
the law was yours to make or break along the Whoop Up Trail.
Ol’ Blue and I would read the sky and ride on through the night;
come morning’s sun we’d sit by gun, well hidden out of sight.
For the Blackfoot were stirring and fuelled with firewater,
out to revenge the recent death of White Crow’s lovely daughter.
The girl was just a youngun, how awful she must have felt
when the whisky trader bought her for just a few wolf pelts.
Word is he gave her liquor, that he laced with turpentine,
then forced himself upon her like some evil heartless swine.
Her body violated, then the poison took its toll,
the heavens cried for mercy as they gathered in her soul.
White Crow soon went on the warpath now lusting for the death
of any fool that ventured there and breathed a white man’s breath.
I had hid out in the hoodoos, amongst the rattler dens
with ancient paintings on the walls that spoke of ancient men.
The sun was high above me as I looked down at the post
when suddenly I heard the screams from fifty feathered ghosts.
The Trader Harris was shot down first, bullet to the eye,
then several others at the post were shot and left to die.
I saw their lifeblood stain the grass exactly where they fell,
I tell you boys, from where I hid, I felt the fires of hell.
Then from the door I saw him run, a lad of maybe ten
and from his lips I heard a shout and then he yelled again.
He held a Sharps to his shoulder then sighted on the chief;
White Crow fell, left forty-nine ghosts standing in disbelief.
The boy pressed on, his rifle fire caught a few more unaware.
Was then I quickly signed the cross; said myself a prayer.
I hopped on Blue and down we flew into the devil’s maw,
where painted warriors sat their horses silently in awe.
Strike me up a match, amigo, I'll try to set the scene.
His eyes were full as silver coins and bore a silver sheen.
I was young as you then, friend, a lit stick of dynamite,
but my God, to tell this story now chills my heart with fright.
That boy was blind, he could not see, yet he aimed unerring.
The Bloods could not conceive this so they just sat there staring.
I reached the lad, but things turned bad as Blue stepped in a hole;
down I went, my luck all spent as I fell beside my goal.
In all my days I can’t recall anything quite so queer.
Those Blackfoot were a hard-boiled lot, but I sensed their fear.
I told the boy to keep on firin’, myself, I did the same;
it wasn’t long before them Bloods had given up the game!
There’s a moral to this story, though subtle, it's holds true.
If you're heading into trouble, boys, just keep on ridin' through.
But if you stop to poke the bear be sure to light out quick;
or else be sure you shout thunder and hold lightning in your stick!
Author notes
In the late 1860's and early 1870's, the whiskey trade was decimating the Native American culture in what was to become Western Canada (Particularly southern Saskatchewan and Alberta). There was no law north of the border and Montana traders would bring whiskey north past the Sweet Grass Hills (through Whiskey Gap) into Canada near Milk River. The trail from Montana's Fort Benton to Fort Whoop Up (present day Lethbridge, Alberta) was known as the Whoop Up Trail. The 49th parallel is the US-Canada border often referred to then as the Medicine Line.
This caused a lot of unrest with the Native Americans, especially the Blackfoot Nation (The Bloods or Kainai make up one band of the Blackfoot Confederation). Partly in response to this, the Canadian Government in Eastern Canada formed the North West Mounted Police (later to become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police - RCMP, our federal police force) and in 1873 they came west and eradicated the whiskey trade and brought mostly peace to the western frontiers of Canada.
This particular spot in Southern Alberta is now Writing On Stone Provincial Park, a wonderful place where one can still see ancient pictographs on many of the hoodoos and cliff walls along the Milk River. The photo above shows the Sweet Grass Hills just across the border in Montana, and the Milk River Ridge in Alberta. The Milk River runs through the coulees and hoodoos here.
This is a work of fiction, though this type of activity certainly occurred here during this time period. While the blind boy sensationalizes what might have happened, the Native Americans had a sincere reverence for "special" people. It is quite conceivable that they would have fled the scene regardless of their overwhelming numbers.
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.
Photo credits: Janice Smith (http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo62276.htm)
In a list
A contest entry
- Cowboy Poetry - A Tale of the Old West by Chuck Johnson.
1750 points, ended September 8, 11 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 46 of 46
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A eerie story, but beautifully told. I love the feel of this poem, I can picture it easily in my mind. it runs smoothly and the rhyme is great. Thanks also or the information in your authors notes. I enjoyed reading this bit of history, and that's saying a lot as Im not a huge history buff. Maybe Ive just been learning about it the wrong way.
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Congratulations on the Emerald Cup!!
This is an incredible story, Cowboy!!
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A Story Told
I love when poetry tells stories.
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Good write....
..... Stanza 11 line 2 I would change the wording you use the word silver twice in the same line. I would change it to something like "his eyes were as full as dollar coins and bore their silver sheen" which you can use by the way. I liked the fact that you put the history of what you were writing about as well it gave us as the readers further insight as to why you were writing this, and made us more aware of the back story of your motivation.I am glad I clicked on this poem for sure and will be adding you as well. Fabulous write!
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This was amazing. Very entertaning to read and it flowed perfectly. Truly one of the best poems i have read and the best cowboy poem i have read. You really painted a picture of a man in that time and what life would be like. Definently believable. I especialy liked the verse
"There’s a moral to this story, though subtle, it's holds true.
If you're heading into trouble, boys, just keep on ridin' through.
But if you stop to poke the bear be sure to light out quick;
or else be sure you shout thunder and hold lightning in your stick!"
I loved it. Keep on writting ^^
------prankstar
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you took on a mighty task...
it was a pleasure to read.
and you pulled us in....and
we caught/captured in your tale!
well done!
perhaps you're the author that
could inspire our children
to dive into history and learn
it's lessons well!
WAY TO WRITE!
Brillant!
ears/Seattle sis
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captured
It roll swith excellent meter and rhyme. Great re-tell fiction based on some fact. Quite an undertaking. Compliments. -
Good
I believe you did a good job on this poem. One reason I think that is because I read it to the very end (usually on the computer I can't read farly long poems). I have noticed some of your lines are forced but others flow very well. Other reason why I think you did well is because I understood the story you/the poem were trying to tell. It was about a chief who lost his daughter and wanted revenge. Am I correct? Maybe in the future you might want to go try do a poem that is not terribly focused on rhyme but flow. -
Love this story, very well done, thank for sharing my friend!!
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Great
I have been looking for real cowboy poetry ever since I joined this site, now I am content. You tell a story with your poetry that wold fill a big book. This one is so real and rings so true to the ear and love of western lore. Thanks for the history lesson always good to have that kind of back ground.
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Excellent!
How is it, that I am just now finding this masterpiece...This has to be one of the best ever. I was enthralled, by the rhyme, the vocabulary, the lore. It is written in a mythical way, but in my mind, I know there has to be some facts behind it, and then reading your author notes proves it.
Rory, this is fine writing! I would give you the gold
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very well written poem, entertaining and engaging to read.
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Very nicely written. In the beginning I wasn't sure how this was going to all go together. You did an amazing job. It reminds me of the old stories my grandpa tells sometimes. Thanks for taking the time to share.
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wow I really love how you wrote this, it's like a small story but in a small short poem but has much words and meanings! Great job! Bravo!
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Amazing Read
so happy to have stumbled upon your "story poem"..it was a great read...I felt as if I was there...I look forward to reading more. And, plan on sharing this with friends. -
very good
This was a very good read. Loved the history behind it. I am a history buff and am always looking, for something worth my while to read. I will try reading more of your poems and leaving a comment. Please read mine as well.
lovlilmystery -
I really like this...i imagined charlie daniels voice doing the narrating hehe. So vivid and flowed so well. I loved the story!!
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Rollicing
A joyous, rollicing, tale of the old West done in a verse that would do Robert Service proud! Just a delight to read this narrative! loved it a ton!! -
I really like this type of write.It rolls easily off the tongue and tells of an event that is interesting and intriguing. All the history books should be written this way in order for things to be remembered more readily. Where were you when I was struggling trough my college history classes?
Sharon
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WoW!!! I really love this story it was really very entertaining I think that you really captured the old west sort of spirit. I think I am going to send this link to my grandfather so he can read this. He loves westerns and is a big old cowboy I live in oklahoma so I guess that is understandable. I really love the history behind this poem and how you told it like an old man telling stories to anyone who will listen. Personally I love old peoples stories. Great rhyme it really works well with the style you used and it never sounded forced cootoes to you I have problems with that. Again wonderful job and have a great day *cowboy*
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I wish I could spin a poetic yarn like you. It is a very vividly picturised work please keep up the good work ,god bless.
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Excellent, Fantastic imagery...
It has been a while since I have had the pleasure of reading one of your stories !
I too enjoyed your notes as much as the write~
Very well done...
Many blessings
~A~
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I loved this story poem
I loved this story poem. The first time that I read it I read only the short version and I am glad to have clicked on it to read the entire thing. My poem to sort of tell a story maybe not to well written as this one. I will keep an eye out for you and your future writes as I loved reading it and the historical facts that you wrote after it.... I didn't get the part that the blind boy played as you just mention him in one line or two I would add another stanza to expound on him more so I could get a clearer descriptive picture of him. Thanks for the good read. -
love this poem it reminds me of Dances with Wolves. I love the indian touches that you put on it, but I think that you missed the ending of it.
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WHISKEY RIVER DON'T RUN DRY.
The history and cowboy buff that i am found it easy to get his fix today brother...
are you really going to stand there and tell me that you have submitted any of your work for publication that was not accepted......
come on....really.....
i mean not just a few....but your body of work is amazing....
i hope you have it all together somewhere on paper as i do....
it should be left to someone who will care for it to show the wee ones ...
to say........look...we had such talent in our family....look what your father or your uncle or your brother...[whoever they may be]...
to say...look what they wrote and preserved for you......
teach them to walk tall in the family name....cause look what went before you son....great writers and thinkers were in our family.......
thats what they should be told.........
Christ this is great........
you amaze me and I bless the day i could tune into your world and writting.....
it is truly an experince reading your work.
Never stop writing,
I for one would feel cheated.
Liam
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Very Nice
A poem, a short story, your words paint a picture of a time past and some history, interesting to read.
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Wonderful story here and a really impressive job of maintaining the rhythm and rhyming throughout a fairly long piece. I like the way you ended this a lot.
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a mighty fine piece of poetry which you penned here with a fine style and cowboy rhyme that lassos the world of language and carves it into small sections of verse - which seem to go on forever.
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Excellent
Guess you have done a great deal of justice to the narrative of the trade. It is kind of graphic and reflective of the culture and the customs ofthe habit. For instance I was really touched by the following few lines:]
The girl was just a youngun, how awful she must have felt
when the whisky trader bought her for just a few wolf pelts.
Word is he gave her liquor, triple laced with turpentine,
then forced himself upon her like some evil heartless swine.
Her body violated, then the poison took its toll,
the heavens cried for mercy as they gathered in her soul.
White Crow soon went on the warpath now lusting for the death
of any fool that ventured there and breathed a white man’s breath.
You do describe poor girl's fate pretty heart rendingly.Do visit some poems on my portfolio and feel free to comment..please. -
I like this, very nicely written, had a nice imagery.
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Superb Plus
I think it is a very fine mini-short story. You held my interest all the way through and expressed your thoughts quite well. Thanks for sharing. -
once again you amaze me, i loved this,
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BRAVO! BRAVO!
What a lovely tale!
and you wrote it flawlessly..
the rhyme really gave your poem texture and depth!
Pat yourself on the back
you...and Ole Blue did a great job!
way to write
way to use your ink!
ears/Seattle
heck of a story too!
wow!
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Actually, just to clarify, You do mention Whoop up, in my home town! So cool
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did you take in Whoop Up Day's this weekend? Nice to see a fellow Albertan on here. Lethbridge is a nice city, I've lived there in my past.
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No, unfortunatly. I usually do, but I wan't able to this year. I hear it was the best ever. I lived in Lethbridge my entire life.
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I love this! Very cool. Its so vivid to me because I'm from the area you speak of, well not exactly, but damn close, and man this story got my heart going. A very excellent historical account. Loved it. Thank you very much.
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this is cut of on the fourth stanza...computer glitch I am sure, but I am not sure as to whose, mine or yours. I liked what I have read so far. I would like to finish the poem.
I think you seem to know your history--or at least it seems -
Never ceases to amaze me your writes. I havn't been on in awhile, but I'm glad I stopped by. My degree in archaeology and cultural anthropology gave more insight into this wonderful tale. Studying anthroplogy in alaska, many of our Athabaskin Indians are related to the Navajo and Hopi's. Reverence to their tales here never cease to bore me. Chief Joseph tribe, slaughtered as they were entering into the Canadian border still sadden me today. So many tales still left to be told.
Love your visionary words. Keep penning my friend!
~Sie
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Damned! You know I read this the other day and could have sworn I put my comments in here, but they aren't. You take me every time i come here on a great history ride, show me things and teach me about the natives and their plights, ways, and customs. You have shown me some great Indians whos names are etched in history. You have taught me some things that were wrong with history and delivered the truth. I truly enjoyed this read although at times I saw so much sorrow and injustice and how anyone could have in their right minds lowered themselves to the standards that were done back then, is beyond me. I don't think the Native Indians have asked for much throughout history. Just to be left to live with nature, their customs and beliefs. A brilliant tale told by you that had me rivited every minute. On this site, there is one other person that I love to read who speaks so deeply of the American Indians. Both He and you have shown me some wonders I don't think I would ever have seen in any history book or any film. I can't say anymore to this other than, keep up this brilliant work as you are one who has taught so many so much with your bountiful writings on your home soils. God bless you and take care.
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From start to finish this has everything . I like the truth in history and you give it . Enjoyed this very much.
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A compelling narrative poem, my friend. It has the feel of the type of ballad that Robert Service might have written.
Good work,
Bill
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There is little more to say than excellent a real joy to have read
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I agree with An Old Codger, my Friend. This is a remarkable tale, remarkably told. I always admire well-hewn author's notes, too. Might as well educate 'em while you're entertainin' 'em, ehhh??? 
Good luck in the contest, Scribe. Perhaps you might consider penning a novel one day, as well? I think you'd pull it off admirably, Sweetie. 
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A great, great story here my friend. Personally, I wouldn't change a thing. You keep the reader enthralled through the entire piece. Your AN is a nice followup with historical information.
My hat's off to ya.
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