Texas
Crossroads
Cowboy
Gathering
The Old Draw Out West of Town
West Texas summer heat and
I was looking for some shade
down by the draw
that cuts through the brown earth pockmarked with white caliche rocks.
I found the old wooden windmill, sitting on the edge of the draw
faded barn red color.
Even from the road I could see the ridges in the thick old boards nailed
with sure hard blows by Daddy’s rough callused hands
February 3-6th
Van Horn, Texas
It sat out there all these years just waiting through cold blizzards
for the springtime and fresh green mesquite bushes – with pods of seeds
bending the branches low waiting for West Texas summer heat that
shimmers on the edge of the draw and pulls yellow headed sunflowers
from beneath the brown earth.
It sat there with spokes criss-crossing memories of black tarpaper houses
and sandstorms – memories of Mama and Daddy and Mary and Berta
and me.
Feb 3rd
Calcutta Auction on Entertainers
It sat there – no longer accessible by car.
Feb 4th
Dinner Show
I watched the old wooden windmill in my rear view mirror as I drove
Feb 5th
down the highway and almost missed a dirt road leading up to a scraggly
elm tree – more ruts than road really – with tufts of grass growing up
high that brushed the bottom of the car till I turned a corner and found
a metal windmill beside the elm and a horse corral and two fine dogs.
Poetry Workshop
Feb 5th
Cowboy Tack & Trappings Swap
Feb 5th
I sat beneath the tree and listened to the groaning of the windmill in the
West Texas wind and ate my lunch. And knew that I was home again –
maybe for the first time.
Finals Show & Dance
Carol Archer
For more information, contact
Bob Kinford at 432.284.1553
texascrossroadscowboypoetry.org
Cenizo
First Quarter 2011
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