WHAT IS A COWBOY



BETWEEN THE SECURITY OF CHILDHOOD AND THE INSECURITY OF A SECOND CHILDHOOD, WE FIND THAT FASCINATING GROUP OF HUMANITY CALLED....................................................."COWBOYS"

THEY COME IN ASSORTED HAT SIZES, WEIGHTS AND STAGES OF SOBRIETY. THEY CAN BE FOUND IN CITIES, TOWNS, THE WILDERNESS, BARS, JAILS, ON THE ROAD, AND ALWAYS IN DEBT.

A COWBOY IS LAZINESS WITH A DECK OF CARDS, BRAVERY WITH SPURS, ENERGY ON A DANCE FLOOR, A LEGEND OF THE "OLD WEST" WITH A COPY OF PLAYBOY, AND SELDOM WITHOUT A CASE OF BEER OR A FIFTH OF WHISKEY. HE HAS THE GET-UP-AND-GO OF A TURTLE, THE SLYNESS OF A FOX, THE BRAINS OF A DREAMER, THE STORIES OF A SEA CAPTAIN, THE SINCERITY OF A LIAR, THE ASPIRATIONS OF A "CASANOVA," AND WHEN HE WANTS SOMETHING, IT'S USUALLY CONNECTED WITH HORSES OR WOMEN.

SOME OF HIS LIKES ARE: WOMEN, BEER, WHISKEY, BRONCOS, RODEO DANCES, MORE WOMEN, CHEWING TOBACCO AND THE SMELL OF SADDLE LEATHER.

HIS DISLIKES ARE: ANSWERING LETTERS, HIS BOSS, OFFICERS OF THE LAW, AND BEING TOLD TO TAKE HIS HAT OFF.

NO ONE ELSE CAN CRAM INTO ONE POCKET A LITTLE BLACK BOOK, A PHOTO OF HIS BEST GAL, A PACKAGE OF "REDMAN," AND WHAT IS LEFT OF LAST WEEK'S PAY. HE LIKES TO SPEND SOME OF HIS MONEY ON GIRLS, SOME ON POKER, A LOT ON BEER, SOME ON SHOOTING POOL, AND THE REST ON FOOLISHNESS.........................................................................................

A COWBOY IS A MAJESTIC CREATURE. YOU CAN SCRATCH HIM OUT OF YOUR PHONE BOOK, BUT NOT OUT OF YOUR HEART. YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE UP ON THAT BLEARY-EYED, GOOD FOR NOTHING, LONG WAY FROM HOME LOVER BOY, BUT ALL YOUR DREAMS BECOME INSIGNIFICANT WHEN A "COWBOY" KNOCKS AT YOUR DOOR, LOOKS AT YOU WITH THOSE BLOOD-SHOT EYES AND SAYS.........................................................."HI BABE"

© 1977 by Bill Rehman and Mark Shurley

RANGELAND LAWS



It don't take such a lot of laws to keep the rangeland straight,

Nor the books to write them in cuz there's only six or eight.

The first is the welcome sign written deep in western hearts,

My camp is yours and yours is mine in all rangeland parts.

Treat with respect all women kind as you would your sister,

Care for neighbors, strays you find, don't call cowboys' mister.

Shut the pasture gate when passing through taking all in all,

Be just as rough as pleases but never mean nor small.

Talk straight, shoot straight, never break your word to man nor hoss,

Plumb kill a rattlesnake, never ride a sore back hoss.

It don't take law nor pedigree to live the best you can,

These few is all it takes to be a cowboy and a man.

............Reckless Kelly

© 1979 by Kelly Brunson