RANDY WAS DANDY

the humor of a wrangler

RANDY WAS DANDY

randy was dandy
especially to the small
red haired girl
he dubbed “carrot-top”
whose family owned the ranch

randy was the wrangler
on our home place
he started all the young horses
slowly working them with a gentle hand
a quiet voice
a dimpled smile
and soft laughter

randy taught me to
train my equine companions
he did it with such friendly
brotherly patience
accepting my mile-a-minute questions
as if i were his equal
a welcome puppy at his heels
whenever he was in camp
thus
it was natural i would seek to share
all my childhood treasures with him
the moss agate
found in the ripples
at the edge of the consumnes river
the 1878 silver dollar
i found in the abandoned miners shack
and
the giant potato bug
in the matchbox
that sounded like
an angry rattlesnake

his little ”carrot-top” pal
so eager to share
her special strange treasure
in the wooden matchbox
clickingclackrattling
she didn’t notice
part of the horse corral fence
was rope
didn’t realize the fresh
from the range young horses
would hear the rattle sound
and see rattlesnakes
and hit the rope fence
full tilt boogie
and scatter again to the four winds

randy’s long month round-up
lost in the whirlwind
and thunder of hooves
and
he never said a hard word
just tipped his hat back
and inspected the treasure
with a chuckle
a flash of dimples
and
“don’t ya be crying
my little “carrot-top”
we’ll gather em again,
no harm done”

randy was dandy
the only person
i ever let call me “carrot-top”
without a fight...

Author's Note

the molecules of your body are the same molecules that burn inside the stars themselves, we are star stuff, we are the universe trying to understand itself...LOVE,LUCK,n LAUGHTER...jc

Reviews

[E G TEN]

Randy is quite a gentleman, reminds me of John Wayne.
I love Western Movies, I got a collection of them, I like the
Old ones better. This poem has captured the scenic views
and lifestyles that is still true to its values and refuses to
Change with the rest of the world.
Very cool poem Miss Jeanne, Thanks.

[jeannemarie coulter]

years later i married a man with the same quirky smile and sense of humor...i just realized this fACT WHILE READING YOUR REVIEW....DELIGHTFUL...

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing story in the poetry.
"randy was dandy
the only person
i ever let call me “carrot-top”
without a fight..."
You create good places and visions with the outstanding poetry my friend.
Coyote

[dan]

jeannemarie, this piece made me think back to my own childhood, think of non-parent adults who treated ME with kindness and humor...now it seems as though they were only in my life for a brief instance, a few ticks of life's tightly-wound clock. YOUR story, which conjured my own in my mind, is so heartwarming. It was great all the way through, told with so much obvious feeling, but the ending? "the only person i ever let call me “carrot-top” without a fight..." Perfection. take care...dan

[Amber Lily]

This was a cute tale of Randy and little carrot top. It's simple but that what made these moments so special. I love the innocence that pours out of this poem. Good work :)

[Emily]

Very nice poem!
Keep it up!!

[....................]

Randy sounds like he was a great guy and you do very well in allowing us to see just how great, It takes a special person to have this kind of patience... beautiful poem, Jeannemarie, and as always, a great picture!

[jeannemarie coulter]

a favorite memory pf randy working a young horse with cattle and a dog

[....................]

you still weave some of the best stories out there, my friend :)