Tide Water Cowboy

Across the tide water marsh,
The sky layers a pattern in your head.

A gift of the west, Unconditional.
You are too, I saw you save the turtle .
Then you stepped over the dunes and held the moment ,
The squall line clear.

The Cowboy he is like that, unconditional.
He'll save a turtle , climb his horse up ,up
To the top of a arroyo, top of a ridge, a mesa.
Stop and listen to the air ,
Listen to the pine rustle, to the call of morning Doves .

You too have seen him there, lips baked,
Modern man,
Leather weathered Shrimper, Leaving home before light,
Eyes on the horizon,Dark glasses shading the glinting glare,
Searching for life,
The dive of a bird , a pelican, a gull, a flock.
The mackerel running a school, the swells left to right,
The air motionless, or a sail rattling unattended. 

Listens, they listen.

Or maybe up the pole , under the hard hat,
Her hair proud, French braid neat.
Her hands gloved ,tripping a breaker on a power line.
Life giving, helping , living, Unconditional.

A cowgirl has that spirit too...
Posture, pose,purpose,to her stride.
And the temperament to stand by, backup or lead her man.

And Him the cowboy understands, unconditional.

Action, trouble,? They run to it Unconditional.

And now to mess this poem up, this prose up,

A Yankee,
Does things with strings attached.

Of course they like Beachwalker County Park,
Like Turtles used too.....

Author's Note

I was asked to describe "A Cowboy" to a class on the South Carolina Coast.

Reviews

[Aethereal]

This is a wonderful description of cowboys and cowgirls. They live close to the heartthrob of Nature just as most farmers do. You have some beautiful lines here. I'll tell you this much: Most Yankee girls love cowboys because they're so direct and honest with their feelings unlike Yankee men who are plagued with psychological hang-ups of all kinds and secret ulterior motives. Also, what girl wouldn’t love to ride a horse into the sunset for a horse is one of the most attractive animals on Earth. Cowboy plus horse is like a Centaur.

[lee von cleef]

I am a believer all Men have hang ups,Just cowboys ride so the girls overlook a few of ours, thank you again.

[Aethereal]

There's truth in this!

[lee von cleef]

The lines in the mirror speak to mine.

[Aethereal]

Mirror, mirror on the wall
ditch those lines I don't recall.
Just don't take one, take them all.

[David Scott]

Ouch! I guess you are from the South. Ha.
I have to laugh at the last part... The war of northern aggression is still alive I see.

Now the rest of the poem was exceptionally descriptive! Yes, the spirit is to live "unconditionally". To be honest even if reserved and held off at a distance.

I enjoyed the read Lee. Thank you for sharing this work.

[lee von cleef]

Ya I keep reworking the end,I want it to reach a broader more world oriented audience,But this was for Kids near Kiawa, or Kiawah,Kittiwar,Kittiwah,Motto: "The Happiest Seaside Town in America" I think it is owned by some Arab Emerant . I used to sit on its beach with no one for miles.

[Lydia Shutter]

Cowboys and cowgirls are at the heart of every story from the Wild West. The cowboys are always gentlemanly and save every damsel in distress. What woman would not long for that sort of companion? The cowboy who is such a lover of nature, he even saves a turtle and is kind to his horse. The old time ideal I suppose. I enjoyed your words in this one....great imagery. Lydi**

[Frieda P]

How you wrapped cowboys around turtles and doves is beyond me but it works, and really well too! I unconditionally enjoyed this one....

[lee von cleef]

Thank you my vigor is renewed, it was you or Kimmers "Clam Chowder" !

[Frieda P]

Laughing here, not sure how you mean that but the kimmer's f*****g clam chowder will do it every time...haha

[lee von cleef]

The best way to get a review is to write your own.....