The Cowboy by Kay Lee Kelly

By Kay Lee Kelly
Copyright 08-28-2001

The Cowboy

He was an old time cowboy, who rode a horse named Bill.
Came riding through the valley to camp beside the hill.
Time and distance from their young days, left a lot of scars.
He did a little hunting, mostly dreaming, beneath the stars.
Remembering when he was young, and rode the dusty range.
Thought of the girl he loved and lost, but mostly of the plains,
all the changes though the years the good and the bad.
Remembering when valley long ago had been pine-clad.

Just one more day on the hillside, with the sunlight on his face,
listen to the wild crow caw , watch the deer prance and race.
To see the sun bring shadows to flicker over the land,
his life was slipping fast away, an hourglass loosing sand.

He could not keep the cold away. It crept into head,
building the fire did not help, so he rolled into his bed.
With one last thought of good old Bill, he said his last good-byes,
With no bitterness, or regrets closed his weary eyes.

We rode two days to find him, looked for the fire glare.
found him by the hillside, catching rain drops in his hair.
Lying near the dead fire with moonbeams on his face,
he seem to smile as if to say, leave me, by this place.

He is lost to us forever, so we took the horse named Bill,
And left the old time cowboy, buried on the treeless hill.

Kay lee Kelly

Comments on this Article/Poem:
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03-07-2003 Janet Owenby

Well you write cowboy poems as well as you do love poems .Great Work

02-22-2002 Eileen Waldron

I love it. wonderful to read a story that rhymes.Thanks for your rating and welcome I appreciate both.

02-14-2002 Bob Church

I think Baxter Black would be proud.

11-16-2001 M.E. (Bunny) Eastveld

Good write, Kay Lee. Pleased to meet you, thanks for commenting on my work, Bunny

09-08-2001 Lyle Berry

This has to be my favorite poem of yours of the many I have read and loved. It captures the essence of the cowboy and his love of nature, his horse and the simple things in life that are the truly important ones. Great poem Kay Lee and congratulations on a well-deserved win!

09-05-2001 Mary -BrytEyz- Ball

Congrats on your win. Tho death is a sad thing, I’m glad when they leave in peace! 🙂

09-02-2001 John Mcleod

This was excellent Kay, I have found over the last year that you always produce top quality writing, you deserve the win so congratulations.
I LOVED this one so much, a typical poem in your style that is a little sad but nice.

jm

09-01-2001 Beverley McInnis

Very well written, like an old country song or the ending of a good western movie. Congratulations on the win, this poem and your writing definitely deserve it!

09-01-2001 Renee Gonzales

Sure hope when it’s my time to go on to the other side, I can do so like this cowboy and be at peace in the place of my choosing. What a wonderful portrait of life and death.

08-29-2001 Nan Jacobs

Wonderful, simply wonderful. And touching.