Author Archives: wfosterwelborn
Rodeo Clown
This poem comes from Autumn Leaves:
He ran a gnarled hand
Through silver-streaked hair.
Arthritis caused pain,
Anguish and despair.
This year, he’d quietly
Turned age sixty-two.
His days as a clown
Were long since through.
Memories flooded back,
Playing tag with his mind,
Back through the years
To a much younger time.
Back then, he was the best…
The most agile around.
Someone better with bulls
Just couldn’t be found.
Rubbing his neck idly,
He gave a soft sigh.
Back then, he could rodeo,
Drink and tell lies.
He could jump over a bull’s rump,
Stop him dead in his tracks,
Then turn him aside
With a quick-handed whack.
He’d sure made it look easy.
There was never a school
To teach rodeo clowns
How to handle mean bulls.
Many a hard-riding cowboy
Was thrown high to fall flat.
They owed their health to the clown,
Plus a tip of the hat.
Many of those cowboys,
Rising up from the ground,
Will ride once again,
All thanks to the clown.
He makes it look so easy
While with danger he’ll flirt,
Keeping bull riders
From both injury and hurt.
The next time the rodeo
Comes into your town,
Watch over the action
Of the rodeo clown.
Maybe you’ll see
Another one there,
Running a pain-filled hand
Through his silvery hair.
There’s a twinkle in his eye —
His interest honed keen.
He’s watching the clowns
And the bull riding scene.
He’ll be wearing
An invisible crown
Because once he was king
Of the rodeo clowns.
THE COWBOY’S LAMENT
This comes comes from Autumn Leaves:
His horse had a back like a cast iron grate,
along with a slew-footed, bone-jarring gait.
This greatly agitated the beans he had ate.
As he continued passing gas,
He knew he had to act fast
Before Mother Nature held sway.
Just up ahead was a cluster of trees
Where he could dismount and bend at the knees,
Letting Ole Mother Nature have her way.
Quickly leaping to the ground,
He glanced all around
And dropped his overalls down over his toes.
With instant, easing relief,
Which put an end to his grief,
Slim shouted, “Thar she blows!”
While shouting, he waved his arm,
Causing his horse to alarm.
It took off with a jack rabbit start.
With a stricken look of aghast
At his horse leaving fast,
All he could do was pass gas.
Now early this morning,
He’d left just at dawning
To begin this catastrophic caper.
Slim was overwrought
With a sickening thought…
He had forgotten to bring along paper!
Grabbing a handful of grass,
He made a quick pass
And began to pull his overalls up.
His pants got caught on his spurs,
And he started to fall,
Sprawled out like a three-legged pup.
Slim had been put to the test.
As the sun sunk in the West,
He turned his horse out to pasture to rest.
“Cookie,” said Slim with a wink,
“These troublesome events have a link
Which caused me to ponder and think.”
Slim hooked his thumbs in his overall jeans,
Grinned at the cook with a mischievous look,
And said, “I want to compliment you on your wonderful beans!”
Praise Him
This poem comes from Autumn Leaves:
When your heart troubles you, remember.
When you feel sad or lonely, remember.
When you need a true friend, remember.
When you are very heavy laden, remember.
Remember who came to give you rest.
Remember who gives you life forever.
Remember who died upon the cross for you.
Remember who shed His blood for our sins.
When you need direction and guidance, ask.
When you need help and healing, ask.
When you feel lost and need repentance, ask.
When you are faced with any problem, ask.
Ask and the way will be made straight.
Ask and the door will be opened.
Ask and it will be given willingly.
Ask and life will be given abundantly.
For the daily sunlight you walk in, praise Him.
For the food which nourishes your strength, praise Him.
For the sleep which renews you each morning, praise Him.
Praise Him in all things for thrice Holy is His Name.
Praise Him for He alone is found worthy.
Praise Him for He is exalted in Heaven and Earth.
Praise Him for all Honor and Glory as His forever and ever.
Amen
Imagination’s Loss
The all-seeing eye of the magical camera has
captured all the world’s great wonders,
making them small to the eye.
Radio and television have aided and abetted in this invasion.
A mind fed such a rich diet soon loses its imagination.
A rose picked from the vine quickly loses its beauty.
We are so busy with our electronic gadgets in every form,
that we no longer see our reality.
Are you willing to pause in your pursuits to see this truth?
Controversy
Controversy encourages and spices up a conversation…
But, like any spice, add too much and you spoil the dish.
New Year Reflections
My wish for each of you is that you find whatever it is that you seek and truly cherish that which you find in the New Year.
Many of us become ensnared by the stresses, demands, ambitions, and desires in this pressing crucible of life.
The sands in our own hourglasses of life continue falling as another year goes by the wayside. I hope it was a good one for each of you.
Remember, during the hustle and bustle, the yuddy-yuddy/yammer-yammer, and excitement as a New Year begins, take a moment to reflect upon this awesome thing we call Life.
Little scenes come flooding back through the eyes of my mind: The wonder on a child’s face, a rainbow, or a bird in flight. It is the little things that ultimately make up each day. Do you catch the idea?
My New Year’s wish for you is that you each live as long as you want and want for nothing as long as you live.
Happy New Year, Everyone!
wfosterwelborn 