Rooster Cogburn !

Another blast from the past with a little poetic license thrown in for good measure!

Cherished dearly are my memories grand, 

of all the animals I've reared by hand

There's been many pets down through the years, 

of those now gone, I've shed tears!

Cats, dogs, hamsters, fish within a pond, 

newts and tadpoles that there spawned,

with rabbits, I’m also equally smitten

did you know a baby bunny, is known as a kitten?

 

But there was just one magnificent creature, 

a gift I received from my science teacher

that stood out tall and proud above the rest, 

as of his kind he was simply the best!

I got him as as a tiny yellow chick, 

but I fed him well and he grew up quick,

indeed he was an impressive, imposing sight, 

with my big Sussex rooster, no one picked a fight!

 

I bought him six fine laying hens, 

he needed no encouragement to make friends 

he soon built a reputation,  bold and game, 

so I called him 'Cogburn' after John Wayne!

One night a fox stopped by the chicken coop, 

its clear intent to kill this broody troupe,

but not a single feather was disturbed on any head, 

as the very next morning I found that reynard, bloody and dead!

 

He once had trouble from two rival, feathered foes, 

who charmed his lady hens, with amorous crows

but old Cogburn by nature, a  jealous bird, 

when he got wind of this, his wrath incurred!

He approached those impostors with a dropped wing, 

his unique war dance, a cockrell thing,

it ended quickly without a fuss or pain 

and a couple of would be suitors, ne'er crowed again!

 

I entered him into a country, game fair, 

he won first prize, the finest fowl there,

but I could not stay long to celebrate, 

as my rooster became frisky and fancied a date!

He broke out of his cage and feeling perky, 

unceremoniously climbed upon a terrified turkey,

so I rushed him back home, angry and moody, 

where he took out his frustrations on six hens, lewdly!

 

Now my old rooster has long passed on, 

to a heavenly harem of hens, for cockrells with brawn

but I’ll never forget him til the day I die, 

for he put the gravel in my gut, the spit in my eye!

So should a love rival, attempt to woe your wedded woman, 

don’t just stand there gawping, like a dried out lemon,

fight like a man to keep your lady true,

look any unscrupulous lothario in the eye

and cry out loud; “ C**k-a-doodle-doooooo”!

Author's Note

He never backed down no matter who or what stood in his way !

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

You're really good at this telling tales in rhyme. I've done it a few times and know how tough it can be. And the subject appeals greatly to my country boy heart. We had a mean old rooster when I was a teen that would flog mom when she was outside hanging clothes on the line. It would attack me and my brother, too. One Sunday, we had him with dumplings.

[Tom]

Thank you Samuel & yes indeed, he was a character for sure !

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hence the avatar. You are a technical poet who knows rhyme and meter. This was so full of folklorish fun and like everyone the Turkey got me!

[Tom]

Thank you John and yes indeed, I do like to tell to a yarn or two! ( or three )!!!

[Angi]

H! Oh Tom, I don't know how I missed this one. That bird of yours sounds like he was quite the stud! I laughed out loud when I read about him and the turkey! This flowed really well, the rhyme was easy and made this a joy to read. You sure do love your critters, don't ya?! The moral of the story is a good one and should be heeded. I like my man to be the brawny one! This was a fun piece and I enjoyed it a lot. Angi~

[Tom]

That old rooster sure had spirit Angi and thank you for such a praiseworthy review!

[Dye]

It's always enjoyable to run across something a little more lighthearted, with a moral to boot! The rhyming was great too Tom. :)

[Tom]

Thank you Dye, so glad you enjoyed my little story!

[Flora]

This truly incompenses the true essance of a rooster!! Well written!!! :-D

[Tom]

Thank you once again my friend, I just knew you would enjoy this one!

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Tom... twenty-five years ago
I stopped at a yard sale on a ride in
the country. I was fascinated by an
Oriental rooster running around.
He was gorgeous ...
softest white feathers ... even
covered his feet. His crown and feet
were turguoise ... Unbelievable!!
He was given to me in a box and rode in
the front seat as a companion. At our home
In the country... he was always happy to
see us and appreciative of TLC. I love
your story and do so admire Rooster Cogburn...
as I am also a fan of John Wayne. If only
all men were as astute as your Rooster...
to fight for their amour. truly... Pat

[Tom]

Thank you Patricia for your own lovely story and wonderful review! Poultry of any kind are infectiously cute and great fun to keep, providing you have the room !!

[emmajoy]

' I once entered him into a country game fair, he won first prize the finest fowl there
but I could not stay long to celebrate, as my rooster became frisky and fancied a date!
He broke out of his cage feeling perky, then unceremoniously climbed upon a terrified turkey,
so I rushed him back home angry and moody, to take out his frustrations on six hens lewdly!'

Can just about type now, been laughing so much!!! What naughty, fantastic and imaginative fun! But behind all that is enormous skill, Tom: your meter's great, your phrasing near perfect, the tale itself is almost educational (let's say!), the start lures the reader into an almost surrealistic trip (or something), the ending is a moral and a half! As to the 3,000 stanzas between, each was a dream to read!

[Tom]

Thank you Emma for such a rewarding and perceptive review !

[Lydia Shutter]

One of my favorite John Wayne characters was Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit" so I started reading this poem thinking it was going to be about that character. Although it wasn't, I was not disappointed as YOUR Rooster Cogburn was quite the character too....he tried to mount a turkey? That incorrigible lothario! LOL And to think you got this wonderful creature from a school teacher? What a wonderful memory! I liked the life lesson in this too.....fight for what means a lot to you and never back down. You are a great story teller, Tom. The rhyming in this is super and the words flowed easily. I liked the imagery. Lydi**

[Tom]

Thank you Lydia and yes indeed, old Cogburn was a legend !

[Dean]

Thanks for a fun look in retrospect of the old Wayne movie. I never liked Wayne as a person. but I'll have to admit that in this movie, he was very good, The poem? Well, gosh, you had to write it. :-) Enjoyed.

[Marie]

I never cared for John Wayne, but I guess I should see this movie.

[Tom]

Thank you Dean and Marie !

[J. J. Nightingale]

Wow .. This is very entertaining ! .. Rhyme with reasons !

I love birds .. of all feathers !

A Fun Read !! ................Jazz

[Tom]

Thank you J.J. it was fun to write as well !

[J. J. Nightingale]

You r welcome Tom ..............:)

[Marie]

This was funny and touching at the same time. I never fancied a rooster as a pet, but I see that he was a great companion for you.

[Tom]

He was a star Marie & thanks for pecking ...whoops, I meant peeking in !