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Once More Into The Breach

It’s Tuesday and I gotta mount that colt.
The groundwork’s not gone well~ he tends to bolt.
But I been paid and gotta get it done.
We need no more than walk…don’t wanna run.

He’s cinched up slow as always. That’s our way.
The greenhorns think he only wants to play.
They point with greenhorn fingers while they laugh
when flips his damn, fool head like some giraffe.

But somehow we get bridled ere it’s noon.
I think he’s only gazin’ at the moon
and settin’ up to take a careful aim.
He’s gonna launch me high and try to maim.

I gip him ‘til he’s hot and frothy brown
and then I work to pull his head aroun’.
He bites at me and damn near doesn’t miss
and now, of course, I need to take a piss.

This happens every time. Can’t tell you why.
The bladder fills up fast though mouth is dry.
Left foot to stirrup oughta light his wick
and just like that my right’s a pogo stick.

I’m up and pull his nose round to my knee,
then kick such dust that I can barely see.
He huffs and snorts with legs spread holding still.
I only need a minute if he will.

I stretch and try to pet him so he knows
ain’t nothin’ gonna harm him~ then he blows.
Once saw this colt kick both hind feet so high,
they both were four feet higher than his eye.

And now we’re sideways headin’ for chain link.
My heart, but most my bowels begin to sink.
This all is gonna hurt so awful much,
but frantically I try a gentle touch
and with a gasp that’s filled with fear of death
he stops and shivers while I catch my breath.

I stroke him whispering while he grunts and moans.
Slow words that have no meaning past their tones.
It takes a while before he starts to walk
and I just let him wander while I talk.

Then everything gets quiet for a bit.
I sit real still so’s not to cause a fit.
The hump beneath my backside wants to sag.
I think I feel his hind feet start to drag,
so I get off and count this as a win,
but pull his head to left~ he still could spin.

I’m suckin’ dust and thinkin’, “That went well.
He really coulda bucked me clear to Hell.”
Could be I’m much too old for all this crap,
but I’d not trade it for a quiet nap.

At lunch I’m gonna own up all my sin,
‘cause Wednesday we both do this all again.

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
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Last few words: 
This is another old one I'd like picked on. Six years old Stan. You'll remember it from Algonquin. The meter's just like you like it. A little off. But I'll not change a thing. This one is carved in stone.
Editing stage: 

Comments

not only are we neighbors (CA and AZ) but we have the same thing in common: Hosses. Some twenty years ago one ornery critter took me into a rail resulting in a plate, nuts an' bolts in the L 4 and 5 area. Still aching. I know all 'bout kicking and biting, lol. No nits, just admiring your spunk. Ain't it time to quit? :)
Ali

I'm older now than when I wrote this and I was ready to quit then. Have to pay the bills. Riding ex race horse rescues now. Somehow worse. This after quadruple bypass surgery.

W. H. Snow

A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds. Percy Bysshe Shelley

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author comment

Are you surprised that I recall this poem? Guess my brain isn't total mush lol.........stan

This is so real and fresh and a completely enjoyable read. I absolutely love it, no crit at all.
Oh boy do I remember that feeling of looking at the deck and wondering how soon and how hard would I hit it.
Jx

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There is a big world of cowboy poetry with national events. From what I can see, this is as good a cowboy poem as there is out there. Why not enter it?

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

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Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

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