Author Archives: brelandg

In a little town in Wyoming Where the prairie meets the sky A long bunk house stands a’waitin’ It’s where old cowboys come to die. There’s cottonwoods along the brook And benches for smokin’ and yarnin’ I’m the old trail cook who rustles their chuck, So I’m the first one up come morning. Each SundayContinue reading “What Matters Most”

When all the cows were gathered, worked, and penned The cowboys drew their pay and went to town But one old cowboy stayed behind and said Let’s take a ride and have a look around. So out we headed for the farthest range Some cows were winterin’ there on sun-cured grass We paused to lookContinue reading “LAST RIDE”

Good women of my family: Sister, daughter, mother, wife, Could all women be your equal Everyone would have a good life. True women of any family: Mother, sister, wife, daughter, Were everyone faithful as you Nobody’s will would falter. Kind women of each family: Mother, daughter, wife, sister, Should any girl make you her guideContinue reading “WOMEN”

This got started when I posted a cowboy poem to my WordPress site with the title “Why Do They Write for Short Pay?”[1] The poem delved into the phenomenon of cowboys writing poetry, which many have done as long as there have been cowboys.[2] The title is actually a play on the cowboy song “TheContinue reading “COWBOYS AND ACADEMICS”

I saw something saying, “A rock in bad hands killed Abel. A rock in good hands killed Goliath. It’s not about the rock.” I see the point in that sentiment and would say that bad-heartedness was the problem when Cain killed his brother Abel. And I think many people would agree that bad-heartedness is behindContinue reading “CALL TO ARMS”

I reckon there’s a reason and I’ll give it all I’ve gotTo sort the notions ranging ‘cross my brain pan at a trot,As I ponder, asking why so many cowboys writePoems as they’re lounging round their campfires late at night.Maybe it’s the hoofbeats of the horses while they rideThat gives their words a rhythm asContinue reading “Why Do They Write for Short Pay?”

With love, he signed the card, his shaking penTightly gripped in fist of desperationDriven on by dreams of wild elationTempered by a hope worn paper-thin.She, the object of his heart’s desireWalks in radiance, fair of face and frameAnd, oh, if only she could feel the sameTo higher joy he never could aspire.Hearken, all ye LittleContinue reading “VALENTINE”

I keep trying to find the dozen or so linesThat even someone who doesn’t care for poetryWould fall into and not even realizeThey were even reading it untilThey had read it through two or three timesThen after gazing long into the middle distanceWould come back around to findSome shutters lifted, some bonds broken,Some long-held passionsContinue reading “Catch Fire”

Staying and going– I have done both. One of the first theme papers I wrote in school–maybe sixth grade–was titled “On the Go.” It told of my travels and transitions through 10 or so schools in 6 years and moving cross country, living in 9 states. That’s a lot of going by age 11, whichContinue reading “Staying and Going”