Poem by Earl Alonzo Brininstool

Rainy Day in a Cow Camp

Gusty sheets o' rain a-fallin';
Yellow slickers our attire;
Wet, bedraggled longhorns bawlin';
Cook a-cussin' at the fire.
Grub all water-soaked and soggy;
Foreman's temper all a-flare;
Ev'ry puncher feelin' groggy'
'Dobe stickin' ev-rywhere!

Broncos standin' heads a-droppin'!
All their ginger plump soaked out;
Dumb to all the wrangler's whoopin';
An' to ev'ry puncher's shout.
Saddles sloppy an' a-slippin';
Cinches plastered full o' mud;
Ev'ry ol' sombrero drippin';
'Royos roarin' with the flood.

Ol' cow hawss a-slippin', slidin'
Up an' down the slushy hills;
Punchers all humped up a-ridin';
Ev'ry minnit has its thrills.
Wind a-whistlin'; skies a-weepin';
Slickers flappin' when we lope;
Rain inside our chaps a-creepin';
Kinks and' knots in ev'ry rope!

Ev'rybody blue and sour;
Not a sign o' sun in sight;
Jest a steady, soakin' shower
When we ride to camp at night.
Blankets sozzled, wet an' mussy;
Tarps all damp an' feelin' strange;
Ev'ry puncher mad an' cussy,
Hopin' mornin' brings a change!

1. Frederic Remington
2. Cattle Land's Farewell
3. The Bunkhouse Boys
4. The Grub-Pile Call
5. Back to the Range

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