Growing Up

MicroPoems about growing up on a Texas cattle ranch

 

 

 

Bluebonnet Spring

(haiku)

Bluebonnets abound
in a hill country April
joyful abandon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calving (haiku)

 

Late winter, calving

cowboys ride a frozen range

looking for ... summer

 

 

 

 

Cowboy


Cowboy hat,
boots and saddle,
foot in stirrup
quick and agile.
Rope swings slow
moving cattle.
Bed down soon
water ample.

 

Bitter

Bitter morning

head bowed

hunched 'gainst

winter winds.
Slapping hands

Stamping feet

frozen breath

hoar on brow

struggling forward.

 

 

Hill Country

Craggy hills

arroyos waiting water.
The heat of
summer beats
on my Stetson

I give my horse

his head

while dozing

in the saddle

He will see

me home

 

 

Texas Paradise

A hillside of

Bluebonnets

'neath

my horse's hoofs.

Riding toward

Cottonwoods

that line the

meandering

river below

Texas

Paradise

 

 

 

Cattle Drive

Riding trail is

a nasty job,

cows rumps all

look the same.

Watchful eyes

red with grime,

bandanna over

mouth and nose

keeping out

the dust.

 

 

Calving

Late winter dawn

cow lowing for her

newborn calf.

Found in

muddy water hole,

roped, dragged out

and cleaned,

and herded

back to mom.

 

 

 

More Calving

Riding

early on a

winter morn.

Calving days are

long and hard

Hoar on the grass

around the young,

foggy breaths

halo the cow hands.

 

 

 

Chores

 

 

Chores!

 

After school

and weekends.

Feed the hogs

and chickens,

orphaned or

abandoned calves.

Everything waits

for chores!