The Progressive Rancher April 2008

By Joe Guild
Missing the Brush
You must think me very romantic
You see me as cowboy
You see it’s not from
unused to toil and strife
I’m usually out there riding
living a dreamed-of life
You can hear my spurs a jingling
see my horse’s breath
You can hear the cattle lowing
and the hawk’s cry from above
You must think what a lucky guy
living a life to love
There’s a big broad sky above him
He’s humming a happy tune
the whole West is his living room
Even when its snowing
When the heat’s too hot to breathe
He’s such a fortunate fella
always an ace hidden up his sleeve
mounted up with rope in hand
You think of the ranch and the spaces
filled up with cows and brush
as you sit there
in your office waiting
for a vacation created rush
And maybe there’s a bit of envy
jealousy grabs your mind
as you think of me a thought or two unkind
But before you do that
there are some things I’d like you to know
It ain’t all brush and horses
with sweet smells after a rain
There’s a whole lot
of work and heartache
tears and sorrow and pain
the work of the cowboy
makes me older than my years
It’s from the din and the crash
of the battles
in halls and courts and town
that frustrates the modern rancher
that seeks to bring him down
It’s the meetings discussions and discourse
as he fight to keep his ranch
with the people who don’t understand him
whose goal is to see him just die
This is the thing I think about
trying to deflect the crush
sitting here in another meeting
missing the smell of the brush.
All rights reserved
I wish to express my sincere thanks to the editorial staff of your magazine as
well as to Joe Guild for the kind words about my father, Bob Wilson, in this month’s
magazine (March 2008 issue, pg. 22). It has been circulated throughout my family and
we were all deeply touched. It has been comforting to hear how well respected and admired
my Dad was within the agriculture industry he loved so dearly. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Brandon Wilson
I just wanted to thank you for the tribute to my brother, Bob Wilson, that was in
your magazine. My mom received a copy of that from a cousin and was very blessed
by it, as were the rest of the family. Bob’s death was so unexpected and we are all still
reeling from it. He was a vital part of our family and our world. Words cannot express
the appreciation for the outpouring of love and compassion that we have received from
the people who knew him. Thanks again.
Judy Gossett, Mountain Home, Idaho
16 April 2008
The Progressive Rancher
www.progressiverancher.com