Cowboy Retirement
Harold Roy Miller

The aging cowboy watched the cattle graze
amidst the wildflowers all ablaze
and tried to come to grips with all his doubts and fears.
He sat back in the saddle and closed his eyes and pondered
and in his mind, he thoughtfully wondered
why he’d stayed a cow puncher for so many long years.

By now he could have been sitting real pretty
if he'd kept that assembly line job in the city.
Way back then he was makin a pretty good wage.
But he missed the sound of the cattle bawling
and factory work just wasn't his calling;
he felt like he was in prison or trapped inside a cage.

He’d loved working as a buckaroo.
And That’s the only job he really wanted to do.
He liked riding open ranges and being in the saddle all day.
So that’s why he'd quit that stifling job and took his chances,
applying at all the local cattle ranches
and landed him a job branding calves and stacking hay.

He'd started out so young and strong
but he'd worked at this job now for so long,
time had sapped his vigor and made his eyes grow dim.
He noticed the young wranglers looked at him strange,
and realized the fun days of ridin the range
were sadly just about over for him.

His retirement time was drawing near.
This filled his stout old heart with fear.
He forgot to save for the future, basically sealing his fate.
He figured he’d get around to it someday,
make a little extra money in some kind of way;
but time passed so quickly, and now it was almost too late.

But trying to look on the brighter side,
it had been an exciting, fast-paced ride
and he’d made friends and memories he would keep for life.
He had ridden some real wild ponies
and had lots of good times with his cowboy cronies,
and loved a fine woman that he wished he’d made his wife.

Even though his career was coming to an end
and he wouldn’t have much cash to spend,
still his memories gave him cause to smile.
Yes, it’s true he could have had it made,
but he considered it an even trade,
for living the cowboy’s life made it all worthwhile.