As I write this I am listening to Hank Williams greatest hits. He was a singing Cowboy. He was born September 17, 1923, in Mount Olive, Alabama. Considered one of the most popular American country music singer/songwriters with songs like "Cold, Cold Heart," "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Hey, Good Lookin'" and "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." He died of a heart attack at the age of 29 in 1953 in the backseat of his Cadillac.
True Cowboys have a philosophy or set of principles they live their life by. Simply profound and profoundly simple. I never met a metaphor I didn’t like. Here are some of my favorites. They are kind of like Proverbs for Pokes. They are words to live by.
“Don’t let the sun catch you in bed.”
“IF it ain’t right, don’t do it.”
“If the boots fit, keep gettin’ em resoled.”
“What’s WANTED ain’t always what’s NEEDED.”
“Don’t let your yearnings get ahead of your earnings.”
“Spread happiness WHERE you go, not WHEN.”
“If you don’t feel like smiling, give it a shot anyway. It’ll help the general scheme of things.”
“IF the boots fit, make sure there is two of them.”
“For better or for worse means for good.”
“Don’t look at things for what they are NOT; look at them for what they ARE.”
“The side of life you see, is the side of life you show.”
“Never cuss somebody else’s dog or abuse your own.”
“Control your temper before you try to control a horse.”
“Never miss a good chance…to shut up.”
“To know the truth, speak the truth.”
“If it’s none of your business, stay out of it.”
“When you get bucked off, get back on.”
“Never take down another man’s fence.”
“Always sink corner fence posts twice as deep.”
“Never pick a fight with a porcupine.”
Tom Jefferson said, “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.” That’s what real cowboys do.
I wrote the poem for my wife a couple of years ago. Submitted for your approval.
