S. Omar Barker came from a ranching family. He had a successful writing career for many years. While he is now known for his cowboy poetry, his novel LITTLE WORLD APART was selected as one of the ten best novels in 1966. He has written countless poems, primarily about the southwest. In addition to his career as a writer, he has been a rancher, Forest Ranger, soldier, high school teacher and principal, legislator, and college professor. He lived in Las Vegas, New Mexico, until he passed away in 1985.
"Thoroughman's Home On The Range" by Charles M. Russell
THIRSTY COWBOY There's a sayin' out West, and it's true, I'll allow That a man that can't drink from the track of a cow Ain't much of a cowboy; for where punchers ride, There ain't babblin' brooklets on every side, For a waddy to drink from when jogging around. He waters, like cattle, wherever it's found. Sometimes there is gyp in the water he drinks; Sometimes it's muddy, and sometimes it stinks. Sometimes it's so thick where the cattle have pawed That before it is swallowed it has to be chawed. But speaking of water and cowpuncher thirst, I'll tell you when cowpokes get thirsty the worst. It's when at a slow walk that's know an andante, He's passin' in sight of some homesteader's shanty, And yonder beneath a blue bonnet shows The face of a nester gal hangin' out clothes. Or maybe he glimpses her framed in the door, Her yaller hair gleamin' like gold-bearin' ore And all of a sudden, her face looks so pink, His terrible thirst makes him stop for a drink. He may just have drunk from a spring cold and clear A half a mile back- and the drink he'll get here May be tanky warm; but the dipper's it's in Is handed to him by a girl with a grin That's sure mighty friendly-though modest and shy. So he drinks and he drinks like he sure 'nough was dry. Then maybe he lingers a moment or two And talks about horses, the way cowboys do, Until, by the time he gets ready to leave, She's noticed a button that's loose on his sleeve. So she sews it back on. well, that's how it goes When cowboy sees nester gal hangin' out clothes! For nothin' else makes him so thirsty for water As a glimpse of the homesteader's pretty young daughter! S. Omar Barker copyright 1954
S. OMAR BARKER
In 1978, S. Omar Barker was inducted into the Hall Of Fame Of Great Western Writers in the National Cowboy Hall Of Fame, the first living author to be so honored. He won the Western Writers of America Spur award twice and was the 1967 recipient of the Levi Strauss Saddleman Award for bringing honor and dignity to the Western legend. It has been estimated that he has written about 1,500 short stories and novelettes and about 2000 poems. In 1975, he was named honorary president of the Western Writers of America, of which he was was one of the founding fathers. He used his initials to his advantage, always joking that they were S.O.B. He often signed his books with his initials and trademark brand, "Lazy SOB". His poetry is peppered with his humor. Would you like to read more of his poems? Cowboy Miner Productions has a very good read featuring just that....Cowboy Poetry, Classic Rhymes by S. Omar Barker. If you like poetry chock full of wit and good-natured humor you'll love it. It's hard to beat S. Omar Barker...he's just plain clever. There's a whole section on Judge Roy Bean that's terrific! For more information about this book contact: http://www.cowboyminer.com/books.html
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