The Lure of Wide-Open Spaces
There’s something about the open range that speaks to the soul of a cowboy.
“The Cowboy’s Soliloquy” is a classic cowboy poem that offers a reflective glimpse into the solitary life of a cowboy on the open prairie. While often attributed to S. Omar Barker, evidence suggests it was actually composed by Allen McCanless, a working cowboy on the Crooked L Ranch in the Texas Panhandle, sometime before 1885. (enotes.com)
Text of “The Cowboy’s Soliloquy”
All day o’er the prairie alone I ride,
Not even a dog to trot by my side;
My fire I kindle with chips gathered round,
And boil my coffee without being ground.
Bread lacking leaven I bake in a pot,
And sleep on the ground for want of a cot;
I wash in a puddle, and wipe on a sack,
And carry my wardrobe all on my back.
My ceiling the sky, my carpet the grass,
My music the lowing of herds as they pass;
My books are the brooks, my sermons the stones,
My parson’s a wolf on a pulpit of bones.
But then if my cooking ain’t very complete;
Hygienists can’t blame me for living to eat;
And where is the man who sleeps more profound
Than the cowboy who stretches himself on the ground.
My books teach me constancy ever to prize,
My sermons that small things I should not despise;
And my parson’s remarks from his pulpit of bones,
Is that “the Lord favors those who look out for their own.”
Historical Context
First published in the Montana Stock-Growers Journal in 1885, “The Cowboy’s Soliloquy” reflects the introspective thoughts of a cowboy during the late 19th century. This period marked the height of cattle drives and open-range ranching in the American West. The poem provides insight into the daily life and philosophical musings of cowboys who often spent extended periods in isolation, tending to cattle across vast expanses. (enotes.com)
Analysis
The poem delves into several themes central to the cowboy experience:
- Solitude and Self-Reliance: The narrator emphasizes his solitary existence, highlighting the absence of companionship (“Not even a dog to trot by my side”) and his dependence on minimal resources (“carry my wardrobe all on my back”).
- Connection to Nature: Nature serves as both the cowboy’s environment and his teacher. The lines “My books are the brooks, my sermons the stones” suggest that he draws wisdom and knowledge from the natural world around him.
- Philosophical Reflection: The cowboy contemplates deeper life lessons, recognizing the importance of appreciating small things and the value of self-sufficiency, as indicated in “the Lord favors those who look out for their own.”
- Adaptation and Contentment: Despite the hardships described, there’s an underlying acceptance and contentment with this way of life. The cowboy finds solace in the simplicity and freedom of his existence.
The poem’s structure, with its rhythmic cadence and vivid imagery, captures the essence of the cowboy’s daily life and inner thoughts, offering readers a window into the rugged yet contemplative world of the American cowboy.
For an auditory experience of this poem, you might enjoy this rendition:
The Cowboy’s Soliloquy by Curley Fletcher (Full Audiobook – Poem)
