Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TEXAS COWBOY AND THE MEXICAN GREASER, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TEXAS COWBOY AND THE MEXICAN GREASER, by                    
First Line: I think we can all remember when a greaser hadn't
Subject(s): Cowboys;honor;racism;ranch Life;west (u.s.); Racial Prejudice;bigotry;southwest;pacific States


I THINK we can all remember when a Greaser hadn't no show
In Palo Pinto particular,— it ain't very long ago;
A powerful feelin' of hatred ag'in the whole Greaser race
That murdered bold Crockett and Bowie pervaded all in the place.
Why, the boys would draw on a Greaser as quick as they would on a steer;
They was shot down without warnin' often, in the memory of many here.
One day the bark of pistols was heard ringin' out in the air,
And a Greaser, chased by some ranchmen, tore round here into the square.
I don't know what he's committed,—'tain't likely anyone knew,—
But I wouldn't bet a check on the issue; if you knew the gang, neither would
you.
Breathless and bleeding, the Greaser fell down by the side of the wall;
And a man sprang out before him,— a man both strong and tall,—
By his clothes I should say a cowboy,— a stranger in town, I think,—
With his pistol he waved back the gang, who was wild with rage and drink.
"I warn ye, get back!" he said, "or I'll blow your heads in two!"
A dozen on one poor creature, and him wounded and bleeding, too!"
The gang stood back for a minute; then up spoke Poker Bill:
"Young man, yer a stranger, I reckon. We don't wish yer any ill;
But come out of the range of the Greaser, or, as sure as I live, you'll croak;"
And he drew a bead on the stranger. I'll tell yer it wa'n't no joke.
But the stranger moven' no muscle as he looked in the bore of Bill's gun;
He hadn't no thought to stir, sir; he hadn't no thought to run;
But he spoke out cool and quiet, "I might live for a thousand year
And not die at last so nobly as defendin' this Greaser here;
For he's wounded, now, and helpless, and hasn't had no fair show;
And the first of ye boys that strikes him, I'll lay that first one low."
The gang respected the stranger that for another was willing to die;
They respected the look of daring they saw in that cold, blue eye.
They saw before them a hero that was glad in the right to fall;
And he was a Texas cowboy,— never heard of Rome at all.
Don't tell me of yer Romans, or yer bridge bein' held by three;
True manhood's the same in Texas as it was in Rome, d'ye see?
Did the Greaser escape? Why certain. I saw the hull crowd over thar
At the ranch of Bill Simmons, the gopher, with their glasses over the bar.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net