THE RULE OF THE ROWEL
The rule of the rowel
It must have a ring
And hang from a dowel
So that the spurs will sing
Pointed enough so that it's rough
But not so much to disembowel
The shaft of the spur should concur
Long enough but not too much
Plain or engraved with Fleur
Holding the rowel in its clutch
Mirroring the mate, Gal-Leg or straight
Giving the rowel it's churr and whirr
The song of the prod should be awed
Loud and clear to any ear
Make 'em smile, walking by, then applaud
At the cowboy's fancy gear
On the wild frontier, they cheer
Unheeled, the cowboy is poorly shod
Engraved and inlaid, high prices paid
Maker's mark or brand included
With jinglebobs, hand made
Hanging from the pin, extruded
More bling equals more ring
Inclined to shine, glitter and glisten when displayed
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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SONG OF THE GONG
The song of the gong
It's bigger and bolder
But it must get along
Might be a bit older
The sound is neater, struck with a beater
As it hangs by a thong
Born before the others
But came late to the show
Waits to be no bother
Loud, then fades out slow
Gets attention from a mere mention
The cymbals' cousin or brother
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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ROLE OF THE RULE
The role of the rule,
Is to measure.
Like any good tool,
It's a treasure
To have and hold, new or old
Teach or learn, it's its own school
A foot or a yard
With a level maybe
The answers aren't hard
The measure of a man or a baby
A slide on the side for big math fast
If in millimeters, just disregard
The role of the rule,
Is to measure.
Like any good tool,
It's a treasure
To have and hold, new or old
Teach or learn, it's its own school
A foot or a yard
With a level maybe
The answers aren't hard
The measure of a man or a baby
A slide on the side for big math fast
If in millimeters, just disregard
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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WISH FOR A FISH
To wish for a fish
Without line or pole
Nothing but foolish
And not a good goal
Better with bait and a long wait
Know your limit, don't be selfish
Catch and release
In the water or on the bank
It's the quiet and the peace
The thrill of the tug and the yank
No tears to cry when you say goodbye
Just for sport, not to decrease
To wish for a fish
Without line or pole
Nothing but foolish
And not a good goal
Better with bait and a long wait
Know your limit, don't be selfish
Catch and release
In the water or on the bank
It's the quiet and the peace
The thrill of the tug and the yank
No tears to cry when you say goodbye
Just for sport, not to decrease
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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GOLD FOR THE BOLD
The gold was for the bold
In '49, to the west they went
Go to Sutter's Mill they were told
Westward Ho, the hungry gent
Gold weighed, fortunes made
But more found only fools gold
Plenty of money to be made
For the smart entrepreneur
Selling the goods of the trade
The needs were there, for sure
Set up shop and never stop
Selling the pan, the pickaxe, and the spade
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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THE APOTHECARY'S FORMULARY
The apothecary's formulary
The pharmaceutical cookbook
More often, contrary
Snakeoil from a crook
More meddling than settling
With outcomes that are arbitrary
A traveling medicine show
A song, a dance, take a chance
It's a gamble you should know
Be mindful of the circumstance
Words that rhyme for a dollar and a dime
Is it a sure thing, or is it happenstance?
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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THE LOSS OF THE BOSS
The loss of the boss was hard
A lightning strike on the prairie
Herdin' cattle on night guard
The crew had been merry
What's a crew to do with no view
When spirits are so forcefully jarred
The one with the plan
Who knew all the trails
Now gone, like water over the dam
How to get the herd to the rails
With sadness smothering gladness
Our shares go to the one without a husband
The loss of the boss was hard
A lightning strike on the prairie
Herdin' cattle on night guard
The crew had been merry
What's a crew to do with no view
When spirits are so forcefully jarred
The one with the plan
Who knew all the trails
Now gone, like water over the dam
How to get the herd to the rails
With sadness smothering gladness
Our shares go to the one without a husband
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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THE SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM
The West screamed for Ice Cream, it's true
Forgotten or ignored by Hollywood
Wyatt favored it over whiskey in the saloon
Found from Tombstone to Deadwood
The soothing treat that can't be beat
A summertime habit, Wahoo!
Beer was warm, Ice Cream was cool
Afternoon socials were common
In the churchyard or at the school
Liked by outlaws and lawmen
Flavored to be savored for sure
Guaranteed to make you drool
The West screamed for Ice Cream, it's true
Forgotten or ignored by Hollywood
Wyatt favored it over whiskey in the saloon
Found from Tombstone to Deadwood
The soothing treat that can't be beat
A summertime habit, Wahoo!
Beer was warm, Ice Cream was cool
Afternoon socials were common
In the churchyard or at the school
Liked by outlaws and lawmen
Flavored to be savored for sure
Guaranteed to make you drool
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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END OF A FRIEND
A friend through life's trials and tribulations
A treasure to cherish and protect
The core principle in the book of Galatians
Never something to neglect
Start young and bold, grow to gray and old
Remembering the advice in Lamentations
But one must part before the other
Sadness fills an empty space
Mourning and grief, companions and brothers
A pitfall of the human race
A friend at life's end - hard to comprehend
Time and memories help you recover
A friend through life's trials and tribulations
A treasure to cherish and protect
The core principle in the book of Galatians
Never something to neglect
Start young and bold, grow to gray and old
Remembering the advice in Lamentations
But one must part before the other
Sadness fills an empty space
Mourning and grief, companions and brothers
A pitfall of the human race
A friend at life's end - hard to comprehend
Time and memories help you recover
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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BAND IN A JAM
The Blue Grass band got in a jam
The van collided with a Rock band
Now the Blue Grass Boys are on the dash cam
With video gone viral across the land
Fans in turmoil, van in diesel oil
Tickets no good for the program
Two music styles fused by chance
Side by side in the E.R.
Air-pickin' and duelin', nurses dance
Some not released, but three are
A concussion for the man on percussion
Banjo player in a trance
Jammin' in a hospital bed
Strangers become friends
Now there's rocks in the grass instead
Who knows where this will end
When a duel is cool and fun
Two musical styles are crossbred
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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RACEHORSE NAMING ABSURDITIES
He was the only horse that had six feet
He was the horse that couldn't be beat
He was long-legged and fast
And never was he ever passed
In every race, he took first place
And never finished in a dead heat
He was one they got from the Comanche camp
Some thought his extra feet were a handicap
It cost more to pay the farrier
And the brushes and combs where hairier
He was the only horse that had six feet
He was the horse that couldn't be beat
He was long-legged and fast
And never was he ever passed
In every race, he took first place
And never finished in a dead heat
He was one they got from the Comanche camp
Some thought his extra feet were a handicap
It cost more to pay the farrier
And the brushes and combs where hairier
It was money well spent, right down to the cent
He was worth it 'cause he was the champ
We called him Big Red, but that name was nixed
At every racetrack he had to have a name more complex
His name had to be more suitable with the race crowd
He couldn't have a cowboy name, it had to be more loud
"Big Red" was still a keeper, but over the loudspeaker
The announcer called out: "And the winner is: 'Watch Your Six'"
He was worth it 'cause he was the champ
We called him Big Red, but that name was nixed
At every racetrack he had to have a name more complex
His name had to be more suitable with the race crowd
He couldn't have a cowboy name, it had to be more loud
"Big Red" was still a keeper, but over the loudspeaker
The announcer called out: "And the winner is: 'Watch Your Six'"
© 2026 Brian McNeal
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