A Clear Prairie Night
A campsite under the stars; a clear prairie night
Stars twinkle overhead creating a heavenly sight
A campfire is burning low; the coffee is still hot
Just one good night of many in an old cowboy’s lot
Shooting stars flare and sail across the night sky
Wings flap and flutter as the hoot owl flies by
The call of a lonesome coyote echoes on the wind
His calls repeat again and again; looking for a friend
My saddle will be my pillow; a blanket over the seat
My gut is full of coffee and warmed up jerky meat
I’ll rest these ol’ bones; gain back my strength a might
There’s nothing like sleeping out on a clear, prairie night
There still a bit of color on the western side of the sky
That ol’ sun is slow going down, it just don’t want to die
Night time brings the calm; a time to think and reflect
To contemplate the heavens and the times of my life trek
A cowboy’s life can be a lonely one; lots of time alone
Time to see, hear, and feel the words of life’s ol’ song
A time to rest and dream away the hours until the light
A time to move closer to God on a clear, prairie night
God created the universe and all the beauty that is there
And he put us ol’ cowboys out here to sit in awe and stare
To praise the Lord for all the wonders he placed in our sight
The wonders of a big starry sky on a clear, prairie night
This ol’ cowboy has led an honest life; earned his keep by day
At night I grab a little rest and take to a knee to pray
To thank the Lord for all I see from the west to the east
To express my appreciation for the largest to the least
Cowboys are never really alone when they sleep on the range
Though progress marches on, some things just don’t change
The Lord is always looking down from his place of heavenly light
To keep an ol’ cowboy amazed on a clear, prairie night
So as I lay here gazing upon the beauty of the night sky
I thank the Lord for my life; the low part and the high
I thank him for the air I breathe and each star ever so bright
I thank him for letting me enjoy another clear, prairie night
©Copyright WBrown2012. All Rights Reserved.
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That’s one thing I’ve never had a chance to experience, sleeping like a cowboy out on the prairie range. Being under the stars and listening to the many different calls from prairie dogs, coyotes, wolves and the hoot owl calls. Smelling the licking fingers of the ash with the flame as I doze off to dream on a night out on the range. Another one of your beauties Wayne, great visuals, sounds and smells. Your horse under your saddle as you mossy along under prairie skies. Bravo, cheers.
I almost feel like I am out there on a clear prairie night, sleeping under the stars. We went camping a lot when just kids and loved to sleep outside with Dad, watching the sky. Beautiful verse, Wayne. I love your cowboy poetry.
Wayne,
This wonderful poem takes me back to my camping days where I’d sleep in the tent, beneath a dark blue night filled with a million twinkling, shimmering stars. I could have almost grabbed one! My last camping trip was last year at the National Forest. There were thousands of little mutants running around all over the place, stuffing their faces full of loot all day long- Chipmunks.
When a poem can make me experience the same sensations as if I was right there, in that very moment, it’s an excellent poem with incredible description. Loved this!
A beautifully descriptive poem, Wayne, vividly expressing the wonders of sleeping under the stars on a clear prairie night as well as your faith in out God above. Great job.