Poetry

Cowboy
by Earl Bergland, 1970

A cowboy rode warily along
Six shooter tied with rawhide thong
Astride a fine paint dancing feet high
A tossing head pretending to shy

A trail town the cowboy did know
Spurring the colt started to crow
With a panther scream an Indian yell
Whining a bullet off the school bell

Beer in his belly the wolf in his eye
Using a chaser of Grandpa's Old Rye
Booted heels braced in gambling hall
Snap the gun let hammer fall

Spurs winking a moonlight beat
Paint cantering scorpion street

Another range behind him
Still another risk to see
A chance of cards of winning
Gambling the means to be free

Busting Montana broncs maybe an outlaw
A popping Texas mavericks up a draw
A trailing doggies a riding fence line
Wanting something of his own at night time

Cowboy hoped to be home never will
Dusted his Stetson as he topped the hill

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Writing Poetry

Why Poetry? Poems are written by people who are too lazy to write a book. Most people who write poetry would do more good for the world by growing flowers or painting old barns. But we need to have patience because many young poets just need a few years of practicing as do musicians.
What are the three basic requirements for a quality poem?
A. The topic must be very important.
B. The poet must express thoughts with clarity.
C. The poem must create a dramatic impact (create an emotional feeling) in reader.
Is poetry a waste of time? That is a tough question. We can wonder the same thing about fishing or watching a football game. A poem provides the poet with a means of expressing ideas and feelings by a very personal means. Playing basket ball or cooking is also a means of personal expression.
What kind of an attitude should we have about reading poetry? Imagine sitting in a park on a spring day listening to your friend discuss ideas with you. Poets love waterfalls and country fried chicken.