Feature
Gary Minshall, Horeshoein' Cowboy Poet
Gary Minshall, Horeshoein' Cowboy Poet
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Hello my name is Gary Minshall. I was born and raised on a farm in
Oklahoma that my great grandparents made the Oklahoma land run for in
1889, and still live within a mile of that homestead. I am very proud of
the fact that I am a true blooded Oklahoman. I am a horseshoer by trade and have been for 30 yrs. I'm a poet for fun something I just discovered a few yrs. ago. I enjoy telling these poems to whoever will listen. I thought it would be fun to share them over the internet. So here is a series of 3 poems that tells a little about our State and some people in it. |
Oklahoma The State
We come a ways since eighty-nine
Tho' our fate at times seemed dim
We blew away in dust bowl days
And thangs looked mighty grim
Many left on the Grapes of Wrath
Some stayed in spite of their nose
But we bounced right back in a Cadillac
When they hollared, there she blows
Cattle's been cheap and floods and drought
And it looked like a bitter end
But we took it stride with our cowboy pride
'Cause we'll work for nothin' my friend
And speakin' of cowboys of this great State
Theys one that sticks in our mind
Tho' Brooklyn had Dodgers, we had Will Rogers
And proud he was one of our kind
And a Broadway play about this place
As the winds come sweepin' down the plains
Breath takin' scenes and beauty queens
And the smell of the fresh spring rains
Great athletes are more than few
With 'ol Thorpe a settin' the pace
We got baseball games and Hall of Fames
And ballerinas of the Cherokee race
And our astronauts that fly up high
To conquer the last frontier
They passed the test,and they are the best
And lots of 'em came from here
And lets not forget our common man
The strength of our tommorrow
Or the bomb that day we knelt to pray
And the whole world grieved our sorrow
We got movie stars and folks that sing
To name 'em would take too long
We got golfin' courses and buckin' horses
And we shor won't treat ya' wrong
I'll end this poem with one more verse
And a bit of food for a thought
Without a doubt, I left some out
But, IS THIS A GREAT STATE OR WHAT
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Will Rogers once said, We spoiled one of the best territories
in the world just to make a state. Speakin' of Oklahoma terrtory, or
Indian territory. I think this is what he was talkin' about.
This is for all my Native American fiends everywhere.
A Special Place
This land was free as the eagle flew
Where buffalo roamed and the sky was blue
Where the antelope played with the deer and all
Where my Indian friends stood proud and tall
Where wild horses ran with so much grace
Free and wild in a carefree race
And the tall grass waved in a peaceful breeze
Clear sweet streams and gigantic trees
And the snow would fall in it's purest white
And a lone wolf howled throughout the night
A place disigned by our great spirit's hand
No marks or scars were upon this land
It belong to a people to wander about
To do as they wished to dance and shout
To pray to the Great Spirit in the Heaven above
And give 'em thanks for this land they love
I tell ya my friends we know the rest
The Red Man was put through an awful test
Their homes were taken and moved aside
Their spirit was broken, their wounded pride
I think they've forgiven but not forgot
Of this land of plenty that the white man sought
And I hope and pray when this world ends
That there is a great land for my Indian friends
Where the antelope play and the water sweet
To dance and sing to the drums the beat
Where eagles fly and buffalo roam
A Special Place that they can call their own
I can't talk about Oklahoma without sayin' somethin' 'bout Will Rogers
Will Rogers
I can't think of a thang that hadn't been said
'Bout Will Rogers or why he was here
'Tho our brother of love has long been dead
I still want to stand up and cheer
'Bout the things that he said and the thangs that he done
And the love that he had for mankind
And how he lived havin' so much fun
Thats one thang that shor hard to find
'Ol Will he loved horses Comanche the most
And could rope a mouse as quick as a cat
His dogiron brand hung there on a post
And a Claremore crease in his hat
Americas dream, that Cherokee kid
His travels went way 'cross the sea
'Course that's just what 'Ol Will Rogers did
Chew gum, scratch his, and be free
He dined with kings and presidents
Poked fun and told a few jokes
He wrote in the paper with lots of good sense
And he spoke up for us common folks
Hollywood loved 'em and made 'em a star
And he's mayor out there for a town
'Ol Henry Ford he gave 'em a car
And a Ford plane, to fly around
Will Rogers died young but long live his name
And his words hold truth for today
He's right up there in the worlds hall of fame
I think God just planned 'em that way
So when ya give thanks for all the good men
And thangs are perfectly still
And your sittin' there wearin' a great big grin
Be sure and give thanks for 'Ol Will
Then stand America and hollar real loud
No finer a statesman they'll be
Will Rogers our friend Oklahoma is proud
And we thank God this land is free