Men in the rough–on the trails all new-broken– Those are the friends we remember with tears; Few are the words that such comrades have spoken– Deeds are their tributes that last through the years. Men in the rough–sons of prairie and mountain– Children of nature, warm-hearted, clear eyed; Friendship with them is a never-sealed fountain; … More Men in the Rough
The prairie zephyrs have dropped to rest, And the dust-clouds settle down; The sun dips low in the golden west, O’er the mesa bare and brown. The wearied riders come loping in, As the hills grow dim and strange, And the songs of the insect world begin– ‘Tis a night on a cattle range. The … More A Cattle Range At Night
Originally posted on On Wholesome Ground :
My sister and I sit on the Coca-Cola ice water chest in front of the Atlantic Richfield service station watching the cars emerge from the heat shimmers off the highway, then disappear into them again. It is about 100 degrees and really dry. Occasionally we have to get off…
A brief poem by William Ernest Henley, 1849-1903, sums up a fundamental foundation of character; Be the man you can be, rise to the occassion, no matter what the time or the fashion. You will have your dignity. I do not know who he was writing about but history is full of remarkable people who … More I Am the Captain of My Soul
Perhaps the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt gave us the term “denial” as they lived next to “De Nile”. Think Tutankhamen and how he tried to take it with him. Many are in “De Nile” that there is a date upon which we simply leave this earth and all we have accumulated behind. Sorry, no exemptions. I have … More You Can’t Take It With You; Living along De Nile
People said John Lester , native of Tacoma Washington, was throwing his career away when he agreed to be traded to the Cubs. Apparently not.
Consider this possibility: We wake up November 9th, 2016 and there is no clear majority of electoral votes between Clinton and Trump. The spoiler, late to the game Libertarian Gary Johnson has taken 5% of the vote, 27 electors. Clinton has 256, Trump 255. But 270 is needed to win. What then? This election is … More No Clear Majority
In a time of great anger at how things have turned out for the USA, in a time when we want an America back we think once existed, it is hard, at best, to watch one of the institutions of my childhood commit suicide. What used to be a reliable source for all things American, … More Tears for Sears; A Big Box Retailer Commits Suicide
“Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” John Adams April 15th, 1814. I awoke this morning to find the British have done just that. For a long time I have postulated the American Revolution was a mistake, we would have been … More Democratic Suicide
The law is a jealous mistress. Carrying her battle flag requires both hands. She keeps my fingers on this keyboard rather than a fretboard. I bought my banjo back when the kids were still in school and I was driving a 1995 Ford Aerostar van. Now the kids are grown, the last one left school … More Battle Flags, Ball Points, and Banjos
Lawyers Road Review 