f you ever
Owned a great grouse dog
You have had your reward
For this life and the next Read more
If You Ever
Category: Poetry
End of a Partnership in Old Kentucky
Two libbies fly — his entry stays
Time’s up
He’s delighted
He will be back Monday
Unless ...
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Last Call
’Twas at the National Championship in 20??
After all the entries ran and failed to make a case
Not a single covey had been stood, bumped or chased
The three distinguished judges were disgusted with the place
At lunch they called a huddle to decide what now to do
One had a flask of whiskey, one a flask of gin
The third a batwing of brandy if you can believe that sin
The senior judge said call ‘em back till we get one worth the win Read more
Handler’s Prayer For One More Cast
Oh, I long for one more entry
To ride behind of a crisp morning
When we gather on the pipeline
For the prayer for a safe ride
Yes, I long to swing up on Monty
My old handling horse I swapped for
When my buddy lacked gas money
And I’d just won the Derby Read more
Their Last Brace as Partners
They drew if fair
And they drew it square
The second course
In the morning
The one you want
If you got enough dog
And a scout
Well-mounted and sharp-eyed Read more
My Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving
I give thanks
For the opportunities
To watch great all-age dogs
Looking back on those years
I give thanks for the chances
God gave me to write up
The best dogs of those days Read more
Rosco and Meg
Rosco said he’d scout for me
No one else would, so I said thanks
He led Meg out and cut her loose
She grabbed an edge and took it, out of sight
Rosco swung up on his ugly mare
Reined her into woods on right
Next thing I know Meg popped out on the left
Took that edge forward, happy, fast, to my delight Read more
Opening Day
Opening Day
On your way
With your bird dogs
It’s the best life can be
Another season you’ve made
To go forth behind them
As they surge before you
Seeking scent on the breeze Read more
Abandoned Churches of North Dakota
Have you driven North Dakota
Seen the churches long abandoned
Standing unpainted off the highways
Still standing tall as when erected by Homesteaders
Just off ships from Norway, Sweden, Germany?
Families hauled here by the railroads
The Great Northern and the Soo Line
In their immigrant cars filled with
Man, wife, children, team, cow, shoat, ewe and goose Read more
No Thrill
There is no thrill so fine
As to release a derby you
Have bred and raised from a pup
In its first field trial stake
Watch it cast to the front
Hunt in yonder to a ridge
Turn to see you here behind
Then cast on in glee to find
Birds to point and hold —
For an instant
Then as fall falls away
Into winter as it grows
Into a muscled real bird dog
And stays longer at its finds
Lets you walk in front to flush
Finally watches birds fly away
Stays put to get your praise
Earned by learning what you want
How long will it take
You never know until it’s done
But when it is you can take pride
In your journey with your pup
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