After the Gatherin'/Poem/Bette Wolf Duncan

After the gatherin’ down by the barn—

after the round-up of strays—

after the ropin’ and brandin’ were done—

after those hard-drivin’ days…

they dismounted for good,

too old for the life—

and they finally sat down to rest.

They looked back on those days;

and they thought, in some ways,

those rock-hard, ranch times were the best.

For by then all the worry and grief, they forgot;

and they chose to forget all the pain.

They just saw a view

where the skies were all blue;

and they ’d search for a gray cloud in vain. 

They remembered those drives—

round ‘em up…move ‘em out….

with brandin’ and doctorin’ and more—

when their hard-workin’ bunch

on a good eight-man job,

got the job done with just four.

Chokin’ from dust and burned by the rays

of the cruel and sadistic, hot sun—

they didn’t ask how

they could brand every cow.

They just simply got the job done. 

When the sun sank to rest

in the arms of the West,

so did those work—weary men.

Now, they choose to forget

all the grief and the sweat.

They just wish they could do it again.

Oh, they wish, how they wish

they could ride one more time

with those glorious, glorious men.

They wish they could ride,

with those men by their side.

How they wish they could do it again!

© 2011, Bette Wolf Duncan

This poem may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.