Death of a Dream
Her beauty reflects
the land she rides,
a harshly seamed mosaic
of repentance and pride,
and as the haunting cry
of a crow's lament
oft' does signal
a songbird's death,
so too womanly dreams
of hearth and home
dashed to bits,
forever to roam
due a jealous rage
and a forty-five,
with the blackbird's caw
her ode does rise.
by Margaret Bednar, June 14, 2013
This was previously published for a cowboy poetry prompt I did a while back for the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads and I wish I'd had time to write an original for this prompt. The above is the fabulous photography of Merri Melde of "The Equestrian Vagabond". She also has a horse BLOG.
Today I link this with dVerse "Cowboy Up". I hope dVerse revisits this theme again. Many cowboys (back in the day) were illiterate, yet came up with great meter and rhyme poetry which reflected who they were, how they lived.
I have fallen in love with Cowboy poetry and here are a few links to some I really enjoy:
One of my favorite cowgirl poets is Virginia Bennett and this poem "All that is Left" is one of my favorites.
And here is one, great for a chuckle "Big Boobs Ain't So Hot"
Jack "Trey" Allen does a great job HERE in a poem that tells what cowboy poetry is.
Cursor down the page, but you will find a HUGE index of cowboy poetry HERE.
20 comments:
I love the inclusion of a crow in this poem....especially love "her beauty reflects the land she rides"......
the crow's lament is so sad. one of my dogs killed a baby crow once, oh man, you should have heard the parents...so so sad...
Midnight Cowboy — A Quick Review
a harshly seamed mosaic
of repentance and pride...oo, early lines that i really liked margaret...
the 45 and the crow, both tell a tale of a home she wont be returning to soon...
and you still have 25 hours...so you got time for further inspiration to hit...smiles.
I'm thinking crow as crow's feet, and a woman dismayed at her age outpacing the fulfillment of her dreams in the West. That's just my take. Thx for commenting on my salt flats poem, Margaret! Amy
Now see, Amy - this is why poetry is so fun. You just revealed a further dimension than the simple one I was referring to (she murdered her husband and is forever on the run...) I love your digging deeper - it works with the story, I think. :)
"repentance and pride"..."hearth and home"...perfectly cowboy Margaret. And the jealous rage and a 45? Yikes!
oh heck...you told a heartbreaking story in just a few lines...how quickly dreams can break..ugh...
What a story you brought of hardships and sorrow in so few words. Crows are great symbols here.
This is a really awesome poem. I've read through a few times, and each time I just love it more. The symbolism with the crow is so striking.
That next to last stanza about hearth and home struck me, because many many women gave up their homes in the east or midwest, and started riding a wagon west for weeks and months on end, to an uncertain future. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be out there with children, miles from any doctor or store, no 911 to call, no shower. They had to be some tough ladies.
almost a lament... sad and eerie
Beautiful, Margaret...and yes, a woman's dreams would oft be dashed in those days when the 'law of the land' consisted so much of those 45's used so freely. And yes, the symbolism of the crow...very nice.
A beautiful lament, Margaret... so tragic. Thanks for all the info. I'll have to check out some of those links.
I specially like the last stanza Margaret ~ Your words echo her haunting cry like a crow ~ Lovely share ~
I like the feminine point of view in this and it has a very authentic ring to the images.
Margaret, hats off to you sister! Maybe next time we visit cowboy poetry we can host together! Loved your piece, so many women (more than we suspect I would guess) had to take that long road away. Well done! Thanks for joining in and sharing the links to your favorites!
A wonderful write! So vivid, you hardly need the beautiful picture. Great post!
It carries a song of wind & red sod straight up to my nose~ a wonderful piece!
One of your favorite cowgirl poets is Virginia Bennett? What a koinky-dink, since my name is Virginia and one of my 4 brothers is Bennett! :) It's a small world after all.
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