What It Means To Be A Cowboy
Many people think we're in it for the points and the fame,
That we ride only to make ourselves a name.
The truth is the rodeos and shows, where we do our thing,
Well, thats only the beginning...
Lets go back to the hundreds of hours before we ride,
I'll show you, come walk by my side.
Us ranchers and farmers work dawn till dusk,
We fix tractors and bring in the corn to husk.
We train horses, muck stalls and everything in between,
There is so much work that other people don't see.
Oh its all fun and games they say,
I'd like to see them live this life for a day!
People seem to forget the horses n' bulls need to be fed,
They need clean water summer and winter, and fresh hay brought in for a bed.
Those few hours when most people sleep,
We're usually neck deep, in mud and blood.
That's right, not only are we riders, trainers and harvesters, but doctors too!
Without us what would those sick animals do?
At rodeos and shows where you watch cowboys and cowgirls do their thing,
Remember it was the hours before of patience, hard work and practicing.
They don't get as good as they are with money and a little luck,
Its the people who taught them to hold on and ride it through, even when life starts to buck!
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Canary word: Present
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125,008 Literary Works • 672,829 Reviews
Hey,
Positives:I started reading with the goal in mind that you would actually show me "what it means to e a cowboy." Kind of like an essay, with a specific thing that you're trying to sell to me. You definitely delivered, and though the poem itself is nothing fancy, the fact that you've written this as a poem makes it art, and therefore of far more worth than just slapping all this text on a paper.
Great lines! Especially the last one. It's so true, and being on the end that knows exactly what you're talking about as I've worked on a farm and have animals of my own, I can definitely feel the piece relating to me. It's cool to see the transformation of your first few lines where it's all "fun and games," to the realistic, bare bones of what it means to be living this life. Something the majority of people could never understand.
Negatives:
All of your following stanzas are 4x4 formatting, but this one takes on a new look with six instead of four lines, which could be okay being that it's the first one, but I really would like to see you add a few lines to make the whole thing the same, that way the flow would be all the better.
This line seemed a bit childish in nature as it's so long, and then you've used the word "practicing," but not in the most proper of ways. This could be a clue into how a cowboy thinks as most haven't exactly made the English language their most candid study topic, but I feel that switching it around wouldn't hurt the validity of your piece at all, and would flow through much better.
Overall:Good job on delivering! I was a bit skeptical, but now I'm satisfied.
I give it:
Wow, thank you! I really appreciate the feedback! I love to get good and realistic reviews
Its nice to meet someone else on here that can relate to me
Yah, you don't meet too many writers these days that know what it's like to work on a farm or ranch. Kind of a dying breed.
Sadly..
I love how you wrote this poem like you were talking directly to the reader. It feels like I am walking next to you while you show my your life. What really happens in you life. All the work and effort you put in and people are blinded by the thing you take joy in doing. They think their life is hard because they have to work at a desk, but little did they know you were awake working hours before them. You'll be working while they are sleeping off a day at the office. They'll complain when they have to work extra hours when that's all you do. You work and work to feed and train the animals.
Sorry I ranted a little bit, but I loved your format with the rhyming. There were only a few lines that didn't rhyme, but with a little tweaking you could get them to.
Anyways really enjoyed this little look in the real life of a cowboy. I opened this being mildly unsure if I was going to like it and I did. Keep writing!
-Hollywood
Thank you!
Hi. This is Kman134 here with a review.
Honestly, this is the best representation of the stereotypical cowboy. Ever! People always envisioned cowboys as these strong, honorable, brave fighters who stand for justice. However, from this poem, it shows the realism that cowboys were just ranchers and farmers, yet shows the struggles they endured when raising cattle and riding horses in the west.
"Us ranchers and farmers work dawn till dusk,
We fix tractors and bring in the corn to husk.
We train horses, muck stalls and everything in between,
There is so much work that other people don't see."
The duty of a cowboy was not just to raise cattle, but to train horses. You have got the utilitarian symbolism of them down perfectly.
"I'll end my poem but telling you,
With the animals and what I've been through,
The fear and the joy as I ride,
You couldn't take this life away from me even if you tried!"
the climactic ending was executed well. Simple and effective, this is the kind of ending you hear a lot in Cowboy Romance books.
Anyway, this is pretty good. Hope you write more, pilgrim.
Thank you! I find it easier to write about things I am familiar with so I shall write more like this!