In one of
my many
lifetimes, when
I was a child,
my dad had a
sprawling stretch
of land in
Missouri.
He had 200
head of cattle.
We used to run
the cows we
bought at auction
through this
shoot with wooden
beams that closed
on their necks.
My stepmom took
this gun-like object
and put an orange
tag in their ear.
My brother and I used
to play with this black and
white steer.
We called him old #56
because of the number on
his tag.
We chased him, and then he
chased us.
I felt bad for
him, the tag in
his ear.
I talked to my
dad about it.
He said if the steer
ever got lost,
we could find him.
I felt good about that.
I didn't want to lose him.
One night
the following summer,
we were sitting down for
dinner.
I hadn't seen
old #56 for a while.
I asked Dad where
he was.
He didn't say anything.
We were having
t-bone steaks.
As I write this,
my black and white
kitten, Bukowski,
bites at the pen and
tries to wrestle my
wrist as it moves across
the paper.
I'm glad that he
isn't a steer.
-
Author:
Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: February 21st, 2024 16:05
- Comment from author about the poem: Check out my book, Seedy Town Blues Collected Poems on Amazon.com
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 17
- Users favorite of this poem: Teddy.15, Tom Dylan
Offline)
Comments5
lol I'd say this is charming humour, well I live in the land of the T-bone steak we call it bistecca fiorentina so I appreciate your wonderful imagery the innocence and the fact that all these years later Bukowski has tried to take precautions for his self. Such an endearing poem, we had 24 guinea pigs in our garden, I never did pluck up the courage at the dinner table to ask my father where snowy was lol I have really enjoyed this. 🌹
Thank you so much Teddy.
You really paint a picture, Thomas. Really enjoyed his. I almost gasped when you mention sitting down to dinner!
Thanks, Tom. Much appreciated.
Good words Thomas.
Andy
Thank you
Good write T.
Thanks.
no country for old cows springs to mind .. enjoyed but would have been better with some horseradish sauce on the side .. Neville
Lol, I agree. Thanks, brother.
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.