Saturday, April 19, 2008

The rhythm of the ranch


This poem has been percolating for awhile, perhaps since twelfth grade when I wrote my last poem...35 years ago. Poems just aren’t my nature, but the rhythm of the ranch doesn’t lend itself to complete sentences.

The rhythm of the ranch

Waking. Light through the big window.
Stretching. Smooch does it first. I agree.
Whining. The cats want breakfast. They can wait.
Smooch out the door, chasing, patrolling.
Moving brushing dressing, in yesterday’s clothes.
“Ok, I’ll feed you now, but nobody likes a whiner.”
Gathering. Dog food in this bowl, pig food in this cup.
Me out the door.

“G’morning, boys!”
Screeching.
“Wynonna, you make too much noise.”
Hugging George. Hugging Alan. How good that feels.
Checking Lyle, all’s well, relief.
Hugging Lyle? Maybe yes, maybe no.
Checking Hank, all’s well, no surprise.
Scratching his belly, his relief.
“Deets! You’re back.” My relief.
Feeding.
Scooping listening – the song birds are back.
Watching, the sun come up over the mesa.

Shower time, fresh clothes.
Coffee.
Headlines weather forecasts blogging, the new social interaction.
Coffee.

Earning – responding scheduling organizing.
Ringing. Lord how I hate that phone.
Creating designing – the good part.
Distractions. Burros wrestling, Smooch barking.
Trespassers? Just cows, maybe pronghorns.

Break time.
Feeding scooping watering spreading hauling eating.
New headlines, new postings. Wouldn’t want to miss anything.

Earning.
Distractions. Laundry on company time.
Stopping. Enough for one day.

Feeding scooping.
Listening, to four mouths chewing.
Stopping, just to listen.

Walking. NPR or shuffle songs?  
Dancing down the road. No NPR today.

Then the best time.  Pasture time.
Being – a horse.
Leading following stopping, walking on.
Walking back alone.

Scrounging, rarely cooking, eating.
A little TV.

Time for bed but one more check.
Feeding.
G’night, boys.

Lights out.
Except for the little tv.
Curling, under the covers.
G’night, Smooch.
Dreaming.
Waking.

5 comments:

  1. That was so great. You have a way with words, put me in the moments of your day. Thanks for sharing it!

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  2. It sounds like a lovely day.

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  3. Sunday morning coffee and comics.
    But first.
    Bootin' up and readin' about happenins' at the ranch.

    Each morning now starts with a dose of MSN Magic.
    A good weird.
    After all these years, I'm finally getting to know my sister.

    A good envy.
    Why bother to even blog on my own page?

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  4. Nice poem. Sounds like a busy but wonderful day.

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  5. This is just an average weekday, Arlene. There's really nothing busy about it because I love taking care of the animals and I love doing chores.

    Kathleen, if you want to have real blog envy, go to thepioneerwoman.com. But I'm glad you're stopping by to visit everyday. By the time you come visit, you'll know the whole routine.

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