Category: Poetry

My Thanksgiving

November 27, 2024 | Ferrel Miller, Poetry | Comments
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

November 22, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
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

November 15, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
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

October 24, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
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

October 19, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
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 Read more

No Chance

October 11, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
I was sitting on a bar stool In a dark beer joint With a long neck Bud And a pickled pig's foot I was alone Nursin' a grudge 'Gainst a field trial judge Just throwed out my dog  For flaggin' on point Read more

A Few of Means

September 11, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
A few men and women of means Kept all-age field trials alive Through depressions recessions and wars Helped by trainers in love with the game Since 1874 Read more

Old Handler’s Prayer

August 26, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
Oh, please give me a puppy Can cast to the rim Of the biggest pasture  In South Alabama  Oh, please give me a derby  Will go to the limits  Of its hearing  Then come back alookin’ for me Read more

Smells We Don’t Forget

August 20, 2024 | Poetry | Comments
There are smells from childhood We remember into old age A favorite of mine is from age six When I sat on my father’s lap Behind Maud and Bird Our team of Belgian mares  Read more