"A Country Sermon"

Cowboy Poetry

I've been ta' church a few times here n' ther';

all gussied up ina white shirt n' tie, 

my Sunday's best like yer' supposed ta' wear,

dressed myself, th' same as when someone dies.

 

Preacher talkin' bout us fearin' Jesus,

n'fire n' damnation for our lost souls, 

like he thinks he's th' one gona save us;

wonder if he washes his pard's sore soles? 

 

I don' know, seems like God humbles me best

when I'm with my family holdin' sermons

up in th' mountins, that's where my thoughts rest; 

it's nature's hymn sings my heart determined. 

 

High prairie songs played by th' flowin' brooks 

neath th' leaves blown by th' breeze as Heaven

speaks through His soft words read from th' Good Book;

like ta' just catch my breath on day seven.

 

Campfire waitin' for us when we get back,

some homemade chili ta' break our bread with,

prayers said neath th' stars; puts me back on track 

seein' grace shaped by th' hands of time's Smith.

 

Still go ta' man's house built for prayin' in,

n' brave th' priest talkin' bout salvation,

so as ta' learn all th' evils of sin,

but not so much ta' find restoration, 

 

cause it's th' meadows full of wild flowers

tucked inside th' lonesomeness of those hills

that sooths my weary bones through His powers;

seems up ther' nature makes a man stand still.

 

 

2011 © T.G. Hopkins III

Masterpeice! - "A Country Sermon"

 

Author's Note

This is a piece of Cowboy Poetry written for some friends who wanted me to write some poems to read around the campfire. First of a few, let me know what you think...

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Reviews

[Tate Morgan]

LOL LOved it Twain went to Hawaii once and on return he told a story of some women swimming nude in the stream.And ho he had set on their clothes to keep them from blowing away of course.Then he said Imagine these poor fools who never met a preacher and the millions who have come and gone from that unsaved place never knowing there was a hell lol

[MuSe Ampoule]

Great work with this Tommy...I felt like I was listening to an ol' timer in the foot hills of the great Smokey Mountains. It's true though...and I feel more than most that the pure reverence of god and creation can be found in the world that was created rather than in a building man created. Beautiful words, beautiful work and in a tone of voice apart from your own. Great perspective piece.

[An Ordinary Woman]

Nature and God hold hands, don't they? Sometimes, they feel one in the same. I really enjoyed this piece. It reminded me of that old poem (a song?) "I was walking in Savannah past a church decayed and dim..."

very nice!

[Magdelena]

Absolutely wonderful Tommy. I so enjoyed the flow and wording.. Hey you are great at these guy!!! :)

Mags xx

[Ravyne Hawke]

Oh Tommy, this is wonderful. I think we can learn a lot about God through nature and you speak those words eloquently through this poem. Such beauty.

[Poetic Beauty]

I think I would rather be out in nature praying and quietly listening for an answer as well. I like how you put these thoughts on paper.

[Kerry O'Connor]

Oooh, I love this. In all honesty, I started to get goosebumps about halfway through... Round about here:

I don' know, seems like God humbles me best
when I'm with my family holdin' sermons
up in th' mountins, that's where my thoughts rest;
it's nature's hymn sings my heart determined..

To embrace the simplicity of the mountains and friendship and family... that's as close to godliness one can get.

Brilliant piece in structure, colloquialism and content. A favourite for sure.

[Samuel Dickens]

I think you strike the right notes and reflect a general view that a lot of us have. Too many preachers nowadays are interested in serving themselves, not God.

[The Analog Kid]

This is really nice. The message is even better. Looked like a fun write to put together!

[Lilly Negoi]

:) this reminded me of an oriental poem i've read years ago - i don't remember it properly, but the main message was something like "and i told the cherry tree 'speak to me about God' - and in the next moment the cherry tree blossomed" :)

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

Great piece here. I love the way nature makes us feel closer to God.
You did nice job of capturing the beauty of nature and reminding us
that it is a gift to us...and we should protect it.