Cowboy Philosopher

By Norm Rourke

“Ever wonder why the nights are so clear
out here on the open plains?”
He asked this question with his face upturned,
While I fiddled with my reins.
“No, guess not,” says I, feeling a bit undone,
Not knowing what I could say.
“Never could figure how the stars could be so bright
‘n still be so far away.”

Charlie was that sort of feller who came
up with far fetched thoughts ‘n words
like why the sun comes up in the East
‘n who gave the names to birds.
You see, Charlie had no schoolin’ ‘n he
hardly knew how to read,
But he was the best danged cowboy ‘n would
be there if ever the need.

I’ve thought ‘bout Charlie for many a year
‘n the things he used to say,
When I look up at that starry sky
at the end of another day.
Makes me wonder if Charlie knew something
‘bout the way things should be
‘n all the wonders of the world beyond,
‘n the things we cannot see.