The Apology, The poem came in rhymes so I left it that way. Options

[vessq]

THE APOLOGY

Did you ever step across a horse
In the chill before the dawn
And leave a woman wondering
How long you would be gone?

She'd know you were home
When she heard you at the door
You'd never even say
What pasture you were headed for.

Never thought that she might worry
When you stayed out way late
Maybe lay awake and listen hard
Trying to hear you at the gate

Did she think you might be laying hurt
From a cow wreck or a fall
And wonder where to go and look
Or which neighbor she should call?

You are gray as granite now and careful
No careless cowboy any more
And decide to ask forgiveness
For all the worry you caused her

Through a puzzled laugh, you hear her say
I slept right through the goofy things you'd do
Because when we both were twenty
I was immortal, just like you.

[vessq]

Wally, Liz, and Jax,

You people are terrific. I will work on this poem for a long time as a result of your suggestions.

I come from an oral tradition. I doubt if you will recognize the names of my poetry heros. I spent my youth reading Badger Clark, Bruce Kiskaddon, Henry Herbert Knibbs, Curley Fletcher, and D.J O'Malley among others.

I was unduly influenced by lines like this from Henry Herbert Knibbs.

Now Mr. Boomer Johnson
Was getting old in spots
But you don't expect a bad man
to go wrassling pan and pots.

It is about a man to old to cowboy who turns into a cranky and dangerous cook.

They finally had to shoot him.

My struggle is to keep the sound of the language right and yet make it interesting and readable for people educated beyond the cowboy world I have lived in all my life.

Thanks again to all of you. I am pleased and honored that you would respond so thoughtfully to a piece that is essentially doggerel verse.

To misquote William Carlos Williams, "If it ain't fun it ain't a poem"

Vess