The Dream
Way up at the Winter Creek place Ol' Walt was the boss
He'd cowboyed there for forty years
And I'd rode for this outfit most of my life but
Walt says I'm still wet behind the ears
The country's rough and broken
There on the Winter Creek place
It's got nearly as many wrinkles
As Walt had in his face
Walt rolled me out 'fore daylight
He'd already jingled the horses up
Ol' "cookie" fed us one fine breakfast
Then we choked down one last cup
Walt roped out the big bay named Sampson
Caught me the gray we called Jake
He said we had a roguey bull to catch and
No idea what trail to take
About half way down the south canyon trail
A blindin' flash caught my eye
It couldn't have been lightnin' though
There wasn't a single cloud in the sky
In an instant I looked over at Walt
He was already lookin' my way
He said "I saw that same flash as a lad son
Today may be our day"
Then suddenly, there on the canyon floor
Stood a mammoth longhorn steer
He just stood there, sorta frozen in time
As me and Walt rode near
His head was as wide as an oxen yoke
His eyes steel gray and cold
Bewilderment soon turned to disbelief
Cause his horns were solid gold
They call him Goliath, Walt whispered low
I've heard he's the ghost of the trail era past
They say he longs for the open range
Before fences, when this land was vast
But my only thoughts were those horns of gold
Visions of riches danced through my head
Of finer things, handmade hats and boots
I'll be the wagon boss of my own little spread
I quizzed Ol' Walt if he was up for the chase
He snugged his cinches and nodded my way
He said" You rope the horns and I'll get the feet
Son, today may be our day"
So I shook out a loop
Fed 'er out just a bit
I'm gonna make dern sure
That this first loop would fit
Out of the brush we made our charge
Headed straight Goliath's way
He'll be no match for the likes of us
Me on Jake and Walt on the bay
Big of heart and sure of foot
Jake nipped at Goliath's hip
No truer loop had I ever thrown
An extra turn so my dallies won't slip
And Walt, he never faltered
I saw him swing in from the right
His heel loop fit perfect, our ponies set
We stretched Goliath out tight
But before I could calm and catch a breath
All my wishes and dreams and hopes
Went trippin' off across that canyon floor
Walt rode up and cut our ropes
Well, the old man's finally lost his mind
Our fortunes made had instantly fled
I explained of the wealth and the fame and the riches
But this is all Walt said
He said "Son, rich is different for different men
As for me, I'm rich as most kings
I've lived a full life, rode good horses
Son, wealth can't be measured by material things"
"Ya see, dreams fulfilled are no longer dreams
Sometimes the dreams are grander chased
Goliath still runs these canyons now and
Other cowboys he can taunt to race
Ol' "cookie" rudely shattered my dream
Hammerin' and bangin' that bell
Roll out boys, we've got work to do
You can sleep when you're dead, he'd yell
Then reality hit like a slap in the face
Walt had passed on a week ago today
I know he's ridin' with good men on good horses
We're all richer that Walt passed our way
Walt's wife stopped by and left me these things
She was truly the love of Walt's life
"Walt made it plain that you'd need 'em" she said
This new rope and his old pocket knife
© 2001, Jay Snider
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.