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rider on the rough
string
(for Buck Ramsey)
Jeff Streeby
“They’s nary a fuzztail has
ever drawed breath
That I couldn’t savvy and ride him to death.”
“The Strawberry Roan”- Curley Fletcher
“...the souls of horses mirror the souls of men
more closely than men suppose...”
All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy
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moving
in the rhythms of earth, blameless and unaccountable,
fall of hoof, heartbeat, flutter of breath and
something wild and irresistible flashing along the pulse
drives the long stretch and fetch of muscle
a song composed in blood, earth, and air singing itself
under the sorrel hide
moving
with the rhythms of earth, blameless and unaccountable,
the brave spangle and jangle of silver from boot heel and
bit and
something wild and resolute flashing along the pulse
drives give and take of rein, pressure of leg, touch of
spur, the quiet word
a bright strict music forged in sweat and blood and the
fires of intention
composing itself irrevocably, sorrel, dun or bay
O, praise for the rough glee in that sparring and jarring to
natural purposes!
something wild and resonant flashing along the pulse
in flex of haunch, arch of loin, bunch of forearm, gaskin,
the sharp descent of crest and poll
drives heaven suddenly near in a bone collapsing rush
each cloud-hunt, casuey, rainbow, pinwheel
each warp of backbone, wrinkle of spine
each extravagant squall and bawl a vast and ancient hymn
transcribed in air
set down in crescent glyphs on a tablet of
dust
something wild and resonant flashing along the pulse
in sparkle and darkle of silver, slash of rowel, cut of
rawhide quirt, bite of curb,
the bull-bat’s joyful hurrah offered up to
distance and the wide sky
drives hell deep into its leather hull
each cloud-hunt, casuey, rainbow, pinwheel
each warp of backbone, wrinkle of spine
each sudden stunning embrace of earth, blameless and
unaccountable,
a violent Psalm to the eternity hidden behind each breath
ticked out in savage measure on a range of wild blood,
muscle, bone
O, pity for you whose blood is tame, you who have always
been so accountable
you who have heard not at all the Anthem at the wild heart
of the world—
I am one who frames its lyric
©Jeff Streeby
One
Of A Rough String by Charles
M. Russell
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About
The Author.......... |
Jeff
Streeby grew up in Sioux City, Iowa,
 an
historical terminal for western beef, where he worked for Waitt
Cattle Company while attending college. Later he went to Florida
and Minnesota where he worked as a groom and stableman for
dressage and A-Circuit hunter-jumper trainers. He has worked on
Thoroughbred race tracks of Nebraska and Montana as both a groom
and assistant trainer. After several years of teaching in El
Paso Texas, working in ranches in Sierra Blanca, and boarding
horses at his place in New Mexico, Jeff and his family moved to
Great Falls, Montana, where he taught English at Great Falls
High School. He was editor/compiler of the "From Texas To
Montana" series of books published by Great Falls High Schools
Dallywelter Press.
Jeff and his family now reside in
Yucaipa, California. He teaches AP English at Perris High School
in Perris, California; and is a sponsor of the PHS ROTC Mounted
group.
Jeff
is past-president of the CRWHA (Charley Russell Western Heritage
Association). While living in Great Falls, Jeff was a member of
the CRWHA scholarship committee, a project director for the
annual CRWHA writers Awards, and a CRWHA Board member. He was
membership director of the organization. This organization is
dedicated to the preservation of western culture and spirit; and
its members endeavor to preserve all that there is to be
preserved of the western lifestyle for all future generations.
The Association does this through scholarships, events and
publications. The Charley Russell Western Heritage Association
is headquartered in Lewiston, Idaho, and has a membership in 38
states and 6 foreign countries.
Jeff has pursued
graduate work and was a Fellow in the West Texas Writing Project
at the University of Texas in El Paso. His performances as a
Cowboy poet incorporates Jeff's expertise as an Educator, his
love of history and his passion for the English language. He is
adept at formulating curriculum based programs that trace the
history, poetry and stories of the American West from distant
shores to the American West of the 1800's.
He is an
active member of Western Writers of America. His work has been
published in Western Horseman,
Cowboy Gazette,
Rope Burns and Countryline magazines. You can read
more of his poetry at
http://www.
wildbuckaroo.com and
Whispers of the West
. Jeff has
also appeared in the Public Television (PBS) Series
Cowboy Corral. He is a
member of the following group, all featured on
Whispers Of The West.
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Gerry "Casey" Allen; Catherine Lilbit
Devine; Debra Coppinger Hill; Jeff Streeby
Photo by
Christy Sheppler;
and
presented courtesy of Whispers Of The West)
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Jeff is currently working on Sunday
Creek, which is a collection of posthumous monologues from
the inhabitants of the mythical community of Sunday Creek,
Montana. Based on twenty years researching real characters
of the American West, Streeby's writing is elevated to a
fine literary art form. Sunday Creek is published by Cinch
Ring Press. Edition #1 will be out in Spring of 2006, and
will be followed by expanded editions as Jeff adds
characters to the community of Sunday Creek.
He is the proud Father
of three excellent horsemen. Daughters Kallie and Cassie took
top honors in the California region 14 events, along with son
Cutter who placed high in the standings. Kallie is also
California's Junior Miss 4th Runner Up, a title the whole family
is proud of as she only had a week to prepare. Jeff's wife BJ is
also a teacher and is the author of the column Over the Back
Fence. Jeff performs at cowboy poetry gatherings across North
America. He is a supporter of the Cactus Cowboy Corral Trick
Ropers of Tucson and has generously donated of his time and
talent for their fundraisers. For bookings you can contact Jeff
a jstreeby@earthlink.com.
Or you can write to him:
Jeff Streeby
35497 Ivy Street
Yucaipa, California,92399
The poem on this
web page is under copyright protection and it may not be excerpted, copied, or reproduced, used or
performed in any form without the express
written permission of Jeff Streeby.
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