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 Contemporary poetry by Dan Donlan

  RODEO COWBOY

By Dan Donlan, www.PoetryPoem.com/dandy1    Unlock all Features - Upgrade to Poetry Prime

Not much about school I liked but I loved to read. Mad magazine, the
sports section, comics. In high school if the person on the desk did
not bother me with silly questions I did not bother them with silly
answers. I was aware it took a certain grade point to graduate. I nearly
made "C" average. But with Summer school, a diploma in hand. Thinking
of college--? Mom thought I was going to be a Doctor or a Lawyer.Proved
her wrong. Although in the Air Force I did become an emergency room
technician. I had no interest in being a Doctor and my interest sports.
I was a top three basketball recruit on grade probation and wondering
what I was doing in college. I figured had a better chance at being President
than become a Doctor.Don't they just have to play golf or basketball
and chase woman. I could become a State Senator then I could play video poker
all day and sign things with a lifetime pension. I'd be President but Mom
taught me not to lie.

So off to college Dandy went. Before committing myself to reading books
more technical than I was used to I wanted to see what the college looked
like or if I could handle the smell. Ellensburg was surrounded by cow farms.
My friend Jim went along with me. But the timing was bad it was summer
school was not in session. There wasn't a coed in sight. Now Jim is a
hunter. He was first to hear wild animals mooing. All was not lost the
rodeo was in town. Sure that where we might find some coeds, although
attired to fool them into thinking we were learned students. Goodwill
sold me a college Jersey and with slacks and tennis shoes we looked
like we belonged in college. It would impress the girls and isn't that
why guys like us went to college? OK, looking like college studs would
be out of place at the rodeo.Downright nerdy for a couple of studs like
us. On the corner of the building in town was a sign saying, "Western
gear sold here!" They had saddles and the place stunk of cattle smell.
We entered looking like college Letterman. We left having washed doo from our
hair. Spraying on some Stetson manly spray, it was too late we had already
shaved, some black shoe polish, hid the duck tail look under over-sized
cowboy hats. All we lacked was dirt and dust and threw that on as we headed
for front gate.We looked more like cowboys than the real things.

The place was packed not an empty seat. We stood on the infield in
front of the bleachers. A lady leaned over, "You dudes calf ropers?" I
replied, "That is for kids! We are bull riders." About this time those new
cowboy boots, they had worn the skin off my heal until I was bleeding. I
had the cowboy limp. After signing a few autographs for the kids we decided
to move on down the infield. Maybe on the other side would be coeds. This
was when the dude rode up on a horse yelling, "Whoa thunder!" I saw that in
a movie once but this was the real thing. I best describe it as Superman
and his Cologne cow dung. I best described him as "Scarface" and he
was a real cowboy and mean looking, He threw me and my friend red flags,
"I want you here and you on the other side and he pointed at the entrance
to a corral."

I was thinking what is this about when I looked up and large beasts with smoke
coming from their mouths and large horns were coming with horses chasing them
right at me. I saw it on television once or twice. I dropped the flag and ran
to the corral and in haste raced to the top. My friend more brave stayed longer
and was chased by a few of the herd inside the corral. The rest of those
beasts were running all over the place displacing frightened rodeo watchers.
Scarface was not pleasant at all. "If you even try to collect your pay I well
personally kick your--He and thunder stirring up a cloud of dust yelled now
I have to round up all these cows you idiots." Acting like we were afraid of
gentle beasts. We had seen by mutual agreement enough of the rodeo. Blood was
coming from my socks and I was carrying the boots. I left the bloody boots and
the cowboy hat at the main gate with a note to Scarface saying they were
a present. I would look him up at the yearly Canadian Rodeo's. Like I would
ever go to another rodeo. I called home to Mom. "Mom, I was a cowboy today and
you are right. I should go to college and become a politician. Maybe drive a milk
truck. In life you often have to change career choices.

*I do not promote my books of poetry and prose on site. I do not want my friends
and family to purchase my books because they like me. So for disclosure and contract.
This is a rewrite of a story in my book of poems and poetry titled "Womb of the Same
Mother." The original title being, "A Cowboy for a Day." /dandy







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