The inspiration for this poem came to me on December 7, 2002. I had to put down a little bay stud that we owned for near a dozen years. Cancer had invaded one of his kidneys and the vet gave him little hope. It truly was a sad day for us. I remember telling my wife and sons, "Doc sure was a good one. He's the kind you hate to lose.
That same day, I had been asked to do a poem at an old man's funeral that lived north of where we live. He was as good a cowman as ever came out of our country. After the service, his eldest son said to me, "Dad sure was a good one. He's the kind you hate to lose."
I could not get those words out of my mind. I started this poem that night; however, I could not finish it until Mach 19, 2003 when we received word that Larry McWhorter had passed away. Then it came to me what I had been trying to say all along.
Of Horses and Men
It's been told of good horses lost
In simple words that cowboys use
He dern sure was a good one
He's the kind you hate to lose
He's the kind you could depend on
In the river and the breaks
In rough country and wild cattle
He'd be the one you'd take
His efforts weren't ruled by stature
With him you'd finish what you'd start
His limits were governed only
By the dimension of his heart
His expectations were simple
Merely fairness from a friend
But when he'd feel the need to run
It's best not to fence him in
Pure poetry in motion
As across the plains he'd fly
A tried and true compadre
In a seasoned cowboy's eye
His courage was unmatched by mortal men
From conquistadors to kings
Cowboys sing his praises
At roundups in the spring
Ain't it strange how thoughts of horses lost
Mirror those of men passed on
And though they've gone to glory
Their spirit's never gone
Sometimes simple words seem best
When final words we choose
He dern sure was a good one
He's the kind you hate to lose
© 2003, Jay Snider
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.