King Of The Range

A cowboy poem.

 

King Of The Range

 

Pinto beans and hot fry bread

are his means for survival out on the

open range.

 

Herding cattle all day with his quarter

horse Saint and his border collie

Paintbrush is his way to make loads

of silver change.

 

At night when he’s by himself under

the bright twinkling stars, he strokes himself  

while thinking of a nude Jessica Lange.

 

He’s the man to call to kill a mean

coiled-up rattlesnake and to fish for

a tasty basket of hot catfish,

but computers and cell phones

to him seem strange.

 

When he goes home, his Mom whips up

a pie of fresh lemon meringue.

 

Women sigh as he goes by, unaware

that years ago in a gunfight at

high noon, his virile manhood

lost its twang.

 

But he still tips his ten gallon hat

and winks at them as he passes by

because he’s King of the range.

 

Author's Note

I guess I had my fantasy of the Marlboro Man in my mind when I wrote this poem. I'm not into smoking, but I always had an eye for the Marlboro Man.

Reviews

[Sara]

haha, that *is* a good description of the marlboro man, roguishly charming yet very realistic! i love the line 'his virile manhood lost its twang' -- that made me chuckle :D i have a cousin, don, who reminds me of this; he swaggers around in cowboy hats and boots and goes out dancing ( ...flirting) in honky tonks a couple of times a month... awesome read, marie, enjoyed!

[Jennifer Johnston]

This is fabulous. I fell in love with a cowboy once...but that's a story for another day. Your descriptions are sharp and accurate. In revision, I really, really want you to try and make the lines ten-beat. This is almost a sonnet, and the rhythm of a sonnet will make it almost sound like a country song. Really nice work!

[Norma M Sutton]

I like your take on this. Interesting poem.

[Wicahpi]

The Marlboro man was hot! lol
Anyways I read this and had a giggle or three.
Funny! I adored the dog's name, too. Original.
Thanks for entering my contest!!

[FeliciaS (Poetic Prince..]

lol..I can see why

[Wolfwind Words]

Ah...the open range, sparkling stars and smoke drifting from a campfire... This was great Marie! Now only if the Marlboro Man had been riding through the desert on a Camel with no name...Then life would be truly hilarious! lol

Loved it!
Wolfie

[tynamite]

Who is the marlboro man? I know now I searched for it and now it makes sense.