Another great poem by Ed Keenan

Cowboy Speak

He says a lot with just a few words
It’s the way of cowboy speech
You might learn a lesson about life
That he wasn’t out to teach
 

He has a certain way of sayin things
Makin you wonder what he said
Maybe some simple pearl of wisdom
That leaves you scratchin yer head
 

Like ‘feathers fly where the shot hits’
He knows that’s a fact of life
That’s when a word hits a sore spot
And he sees the flinch and strife

Cowboy names are just three letters
Because he limits his words
‘Cause it ain’t efficient to be verbose
So he makes good use of verbs

Not wastin words on double syllables
He uses the shorter names
Like Lew and Ed and Ted and Ned
And cowboys like Will James

No names like ‘The Marlboro Man’
On some perty cowboy poster
But Matt and Tim or John Wayne
Imprinted on their holster

No respectable outfit would ever hire
A cowhand named Bubba
Or some Bartholomew or Oliver
Or a potbelly named Tubba

Life’s just too short to use big words
Gettin ‘hoof and mouth disease’
So a cowboy’s careful what he says
‘Cause it puts his mind at ease
Ed Keenan © 4/02

COW CHIP/COWBOY POETRY: For a poem, click here.
Cow Chip Poetry - Lies, Lingo and Lore by Southwest Cowboy Poet, Ed Keenan. This is an entertaining collection of cowboy poetry with an extensive 'Glossary of Cowboy Lingo'. Great gift - perfect for trail rides, cookouts, campouts. Contact Arroyo Press, (888) 784-8282, PO Box 1028, Vista CA, 92085. www.SouthwestBlend.com/cowchippoetry