Cowboy Poetry and Goat Ropers

Galloping Goat Roper

by Kayla - 7th grade

Rodeo has never been the same

since 1987 came

it had a new claim to fame

and goat roping was it's name.

If you had a horse

and a rope of course

you could be a Galloping Goat Roper

but you had to be a loper.

With a goat in the chute

your horse will have a dispute

but she settles down

with all four feet on the ground.

A rope in hand

the crowd cheering like a band

a nod of your head

and the goat will surely need a med.

Your horse takes off

like a big bad cough

you caught him around the neck

but you can't find your horn and think what the heck.

You finally get your dally

and jump off ole Sally

you grab the legs

like they're pegs.

When the goat hit he ground

there won't be no sound

you tie the legs together

and wait for six altogether.

The goat stays tied

oh boy its been a ride

so your name if only a hoper

could be Galloping Goat Roper.

An American classic is alive and well. My niece in Montana had the experience of having an authentic cowboy poet visit her school. TJ Casey spent an entire week at their school working with the kids each day in different classes. He told the kids at the beginning of the week that he would be selecting poems from the students to be published on his website. Kayla is in the 4-H program and took Cowboy Poetry as one of her projects for this year. Cowboy Poetry in America dates back to the time just after the civil war. It has its roots in the long cattle drives that took place between Texas and Kansas just after the Civil War and claims influences by some of the great American writers, great literary works such as the Bible and Odyssey, ranching experiences, country music and more. Kayla's poem was selected by TJ Casey and is featured on his website, www.tjcasey.net it will also be published on www.cowboypoetry.com and in the Western Ag Reporter Paper. Our kudo's to Kayla on a job well done, and also to TJ Casey for donating his time and lots of it, to enriching and teaching the kids.