The Cowgirl – a modern Cowboy Poem
“The Cowgirl” cowboy poem, or perhaps to be more appropriate — “cowgirl poem”, is not your typical cowgirl story set to poetry. Instead, “The Cowgirl” is a great story and cowboy poem, along with the video, about a young gal whose daddy owns a big cattle ranch out West, and who can better most of her male counterparts at everything from roping, riding, and even drinking Tequila – until she falls in love with one of the local cowhands. It’s their story, and is tender and also fast moving. This “cowgirl poem” appears in full at the bottom of this page. I also have a quick link to my YouTube video of this “cowgirl” poem with music and rodeo background a bit further down the page. The guys get a kick out of it. The gals love it, because it tells the tale of a strong (but tender) woman who can hold her own — and does, out in the rough of the west. Of course, it’s from my new book “The Old West & Times Gone By” available on Barnes & Noble or direct from this website on the bottom of the home page. If you would like the direct link to the YouTube page that link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyCIItfWtWk&t=76s You can also view the video by clicking on the photo link to this cowboy poem a little bit further down this page. If you like it – a comment on this “cowgirl poem” would certainly be appreciated.
By the way – I usually perform my western cowboy poems the third Monday of every month at the Arts Garage in downtown Delray Beach at their monthly Poetry Night. Stop by if you’re in town when I’m performing , and say “Howdy”! The link to their website where they have a calendar of events is https://artsgarage.org/
The Cowgirl
copyright 2022 by Marshal T. Justice
Her hair was like a mass of tumbleweeds
rolling across the open plains
it often got tangled into knots
said to surround her brain
A cowgirl to the bitter end
she could ride a horse thru the night
shoot a Winchester straight and true
and “Damn!” . . . she could out drink every cowpoke I knew!
I saw her while sitting in our local saloon
She took three shots of Tequila straight down
then grabbed a pool cue from the back
and shot a perfect round
I walked up slower than a damn slug
and started to say hello
but she turned around and headed out
with a cowpoke right in tow
“Damn!” I said under my breath!
I missed that gal again!
I wondered if I’d have another chance?
and I really wondered
when?
Well they say that karma’s a Far Eastern thing
has little to do with the American West
but I couldn’t put her out of my mind
although I did my best
And riding herd for the Circle B
I saw her coming near
she came on fast, riding right past me
and then she roped a steer
(I rode up)
“Pardon me, Ma’am. Could you use some help?”
She looked up with some surprise
Shook off some dirt, tipped her Stetson hat back
Pushed some hair above her eyes
“Who the hell, you talking to?” She spat her words at me.
“I can outride, out rope some ten of you!
“You better leave me be!”
“Damn!” . . . another chance shot to hell!
But at least I gave it a try
I turned my horse, but then looked back
and somehow caught her eye
“Hey, cowboy! I’ve seen you before!
“I know you’ve looked at me
“My name is Sam
“I ride this range
“my daddy owns the Circle B.”
She laughed right then, and then turned back
she had to do that brand
and I pushed on
my head hung down
just another damned hired hand
Well, ya know, karma isn’t all Far Eastern, after all
it also exists in the American West
and when I hit that same saloon a week later
somebody punched me right in my chest
“Hey, Cowboy! Never got your name!
“You know my name is Sam
“Do you shoot pool?
“I play for shots!
“Try to beat me, if you can!”
Well, I almost fell over from that shot
my composure completely gone
and then I got my manhood back
ready to take her on
“My name is Wes. Sure, I’ll take you on
“and beat you if I can
“But I’ve seen you play before
“You might just be – the better man!”
She laughed at that
and grabbed a cue
and then began to play
she didn’t miss
not once, not twice
I finally had to say:
“I think I’ve had all I can take
“You’re way too good for me!”
Then she grabbed my hand
pulled me out to dance
sorta like a jamboree
Well, we got on fast
maybe way too fast
but ever since that night
we’re together when the stars do shine
when the moon comes out at night
They promoted me to assistant foreman
but her daddy made it clear
if I didn’t treat his daughter right
I’d have more than him to fear
Cause Sam can rope
and Sam can ride
and Sam can also fight (she has a mean right hand)
She’s something like the untamed West
and I’d better . . . just treat her right!