I wish the most blessed Christmas to everyone. My Man wrote this poem a few years back and would like to share it with you.
Makin’ Your Way
By John Simmons
The cold wind had a sharp bite
Snow was startin’ to fall
He had stayed too long in Montana
Longer than he should have stayed at all
He had drifted up here from Texas
Back when the calves were born in the spring
It was the talk of good payin’ wages
After a couple of pretty lean years
A lifetime a-doin’ cowboy work
Had helped to earn him top dollar
The thought brought on a smile
And warmed the cold air around his collar
Off down in a valley
His eye caught a light
Someplace dry and warm; even the old barn
Would suit this wintry night
As his foot hit the front porch step
The old dog alayin’ there begin to stir
The aging house door creaked slightly open
And what do ya want stranger
Was the first thing that was heard
Just a place to bed down for the night
I don’t mean no harm
Just a place for me and my pony
I’ll be gone for early dawn
Come on in stranger
I hope I didn’t come off too strong
The wife is a fixin’ some supper
It’ll soon be ready; won’t be long
He reached into his saddlebag
Some jerky and dry beans was all he had
There had to be some kind of offering
And this wouldn’t be bad
The young man told a story
Ranchin’ was the life he chose
Tryin’ to make a livin’ of hay and horses
And how the goin’ had really been slow
As they bowed their heads the young rancher prayed
And the stranger knew where he stood
And he tried to remember
When bread, beans and jerky tasted so good
He was offered to bed down by the fire
And his mind came to a slow pace
He dreamed of the nearing Christmas, his mother
And his ranch back at the home place
Leaving ‘fore dawn as he promised
He traced the mornin’ sun on the land
I’ve made my home and my life
Ridin’ the trail in Gods hands