Simple, subtle and satisfying,,,,, as it should be. Thanks Dick

Love this! The imaging is so vivid, it played in my head perfectly! 'Rugid to Relaxin'

Hell, that was long ago! That was Ralph Lauren yesterday! ;-)

Ron

really captures the essence of it all, budd.
ah, how those open spaces do call...
carolyn

A cowboy's life, like no other. Enjoyable work here. Patrick

You give us time to remember all those cowboys from days gone by. I loved watching all those tv shows as a young girl. The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, Lone Ranger, All the John Wayne movies, oh my the list goes on and on for sure!

Thanks for the memory, kid !!!

Peace, love and light,
Amber

I think I've watched every Western ever made; even wrote a Western. And my favorite camping trips out west were always on horseback.

A fascinating write as I to grew up watching Bonanza
and the Big Valley even gun smoke as cowboys were heroes in many ways great poem Laura

I enjoyed this immensely! Brought back so many memories from my childhood days when cowboys on the TV were so popular, and so exciting for us in UK to watch...I loved Bonanza also..'Little Joe', Michael Landon was my hero!
Your words conjured up the perfect image of the classic cowboy...worn leather, tanned skin,ten gallon hat, riding into the sunset ...Please bring them back!!
Best wishes, Diana..

I guess cowboys still are heroes in many ways. They epitomise the less materialistic life-style, when riding with Nature and breathing in the wonders of our glorious planet were all that was needed to feel at peace.

Brings to mind Bonanza and other cowboy shows I watched with mother. Big John Wayne and Dean Martin were a winning combination. I just recently tried on a black stetson - man, it's the best hat in the world. I can't find a baseball cap to fit me (I don't like 'em - British cloth cap any day!), but the stetson is a design classic.

We don't write enough about those of us that live lives of "needs" rather than "wants." Your narrative and character depiction here is a harsh reminder of how many of our species "imitates" others, rather than being who they are, the being of whatever combination of spirit, mind and body they happen to be. Most people are afraid to play poker game of life because they don't know whether they can play the cards they are dealt. Therein, is part of the problem. People need to educate themselves, about themselves, find out what their biological, spiritual, and intellectual cards tell them, and then... an then... play the damn cards, or fold. Your character here knows who he is, why he is and what he needs to do. He is a true sentient being free of coerced conditioning, a person of thought and consideration for his self preservation through honesty. Would that we poets could live as pure a life, fearless of results, doing only "what we are." Let's hear it for cowboys.

Zane Gray is smiling, Budd . . .