I chanced upon some cowboy wisdom in a men’s room in Holbrook, Arizona, which seems pithy and timely. Or timeless:
Don’t squat with your spurs on. Never smack a man who’s chewing tobacco. Broke is what happens when a cowboy lets his yearnings get ahead of his earnings. When in doubt, let your horse do your thinking. Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day. The only way to drive cattle fast is slowly. Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town. Poor is having to sell the horse to buy the saddle. If you find yourself in a hole, first–stop digging. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket. Never, ever, miss a good opportunity to shut up.
We stayed a couple nights in the quiet town of Holbrook and journeyed through the Petrified Forest, and the Painted Desert. I’ll let my two older students take it from here–budding Shakespeares:
We saw a desert painted over time
It is an ever changing desert
Made by the sun and the clouds
We saw trees mummified by time
Left to rot beneath the sand
But instead were turned into works of art
For everyone to enjoy
Son One
Son Two
Happy Trails!
Love the pithy comments from the restroom wall; I plan to write some pithy poem based on some of the more squalid comments I see in such places. I like the poem with trees and time in text, and then two offered color…like a kidnapped poem. The car is either a 3- or 31 Ford Town Sedan. The only dif is the radiator shell and I am not sure. I had a 31 but don’t recall. Cheers.
Quite lovely poems! I enjoyed them both!
Always encourage the beauty of the Lord… and expression of thoughts~
Love the poems!!! I also love Arizona and New Mexico. Continue your wonderful posts! Barbara Morrison and I did a reading together at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda this afternoon, and we were both saying how much we miss you!!!
Shirleyxoxo
Shirley – both Arizona and New Mexico were magical/mystical. We have seen so many wonderful things, and met many extraordinary people so far!