As heard on The Good Stuff with Jim Thompson

 With thanks to Baxter Black

            Jack Hunter was a cowboy all his life.  I don’t mean no pickup drivin’, two way radio talkin’, Marlboro smokin’, team ropin’, bee boppin’, baseball cap cowboy.  I mean a real cowboy!

And in his honor, I offer this:     

Lookin’ Back

All my life I been eatin’ trail dust, punchin’ cows and sleeping in a bedroll.

            I washed my socks in the river a million times and stunk so bad I smelled like an old beaver hide.

            My feet’s been froze and my heads been baked, I’ve growed enough hide over rope burns to cover ten saddles.

            There’s been times in my life that I’d have given every dime I had for a dry boot.

            I guess I’ve rode three or four hundred horses into the ground, some good, some not so good

            I’ve knowed an equal number of men, some good.  But I thank whatever God watches over me that I’ve known at least one good woman.

            I’ve probably lost more spurs, wore out more ropes, drunk more bad coffee and more good whiskey than most men.

            I’ve eat them damn beans and chewed that tough meat til Hell wouldn’t have it.

            I been hungry and tired, cold and broke, and there’s been times I was ten miles from camp dyin’ for a smoke and not a match in my pocket.

            But I’ve been happy.  Lord, that sun comin’ up over the edge of the canyon, the chill comin’ off the sage, that first cup of coffee ‘fore you saddle up.

            You couldn’t buy that from me with fancy cars or easy chairs or PHDs.

            This earth’s give me a fair shake so far, but I don’t see many young fellers followin’ my footsteps.

            But, by God, if some green buckaroo wants to make a hand someday I say more power to him.!

            I left him an easy trail to follow.

For my friend Jack Hunter who died January 7, 2000.  Jack, I’m a better man for knowin’ ya.