Grateful Cowboy

Grateful Cowboy

Enjoyin' the yellow mornin' sun
Once again bringin' on the day
As the boys all 'round the camp
In their rumpled bedrolls lay

Listenin' to Cooky's pot bangin'
Amongst some hands a'snorin'
Ol' Patch is tyin' up his roll
There's Yancy a coffee pourin'

I dropped my saddle to the ground
My stache twistin' a slight grin
I fetched a hot cup of my own
Gloved hands wrappin' my tin

Yesterday I brought in the remuda
A tall job for a single hand
But I cottoned to the challenge
Proud-showin’ the boys my sand

It's comfy bein' back in camp
After nighthawkin' dusk to dawn
This is my best rewardin' life
These are the cards I've drawn

Speakin’ of drawin’ cards
And the life that one might choose
I have a twin brother I love
Despite his opposite views

I’m not much like my twin
Who pursued the life expected
Pleasin’ our folks, makin’ 'em proud
While their wishes I had rejected

My brother went off to college
Got a hifalutin degree
Folks now bow, call him doctor
Cuz of that lofty P-H-D

He's makin' it big in the city
Haulin' in all that puffy dough
Pa's powerful proud of him
But he looks at me sad with woe

Still, I reckon I'm more content
With the way that I have picked
Money won’t buy the peace I know
No man could write this script

My bro has no time for pleasure
His family’s purt near strangers
Cain’t slow or enjoy due to bills,
School loans and other debt dangers

Back when I was in school some poet
Mentioned a fork in a trail
He chose the path less traveled
And thereby cast his tale

He wrote about that choice
And how it made the change
'Reckon my choosin' horseback
Is keepin’ me ridin’ this range

I’ve little money and no debt
This big sky, clean water and air
Are ‘bout all a man needs
Well, that and my trusty mare

I sleep a roof over my head
Reg'lar get my squares ever’ day
Good pards and top horses are mine
Plus a few friendly dogs to play

Cowboyin’ is so much more than
A job or means to earn your way
It’s the lifestyle to which I’m pledged
To live until my dyin’ day

I wish my pa saw me so proud
Maybe my brother likes the stress
As for me I praise my dear Lord
For providin' a life so blessed

by Rik "Yonder" Goodell

This painting, by Jack Sorenson, of a happy young cowboy doing a difficult job, speaks to me of the grit it takes to be a hand..

For more of this artist's work, go to his website:

"Thirteen Kinds Of Trouble"", by Jack Sorenson