 |
| Larry Bailie helping a friend put up some fence in the Everglades |
[Note: Contributing Editor Roger Owens discovered fellow Floridian Larry Bailie and invited him to submit his work to Moristotle & Co. We welcome Larry and thank Roger for serving as Larry’s editor here.]
Kyle J. Simpson
Kyle J.Simpson was a man
born in west Texas.
Some said he was born wearing that vest he wore every day.
I would not say he was a handsome man,
but most ladies liked him.
He stood over six foot, but no one dared measure him to see how much over.
He was only in one fight in his life.But that didn’t mean there was no strife.
The fight was over in three seconds, they say.
Seventeen years old and some drag-riding
cowboy had picked it.
Kyle broke his jaw with one swing.
They say the man laid on the ground for a week.
Maybe that is why he didn’t socialize much with people.
He said he didn’t ever want to hurt things.
He had a dog he named Respect,
and if you didn’t, you would in short order.
Kyle J.Simpson was a rancher who loved horses.
More than people, they say.
All we know is he could make a horse do stuff.
Just by asking.
He said he knew their nature,
and they knew him and his nature.
Kind of creepy, some say.
In the Fall of 1924, they laid Kyle to rest
In a spot he liked down by a creek.
The day he was buried and for some weeks after,
herds of horses stopped by his resting place.
Didn’t stay long, just stood and stared.
Then moved on.
Ranchers claimed their horses would break corrals to go visit.
People did stop by. Most knew his story.Some heard about the man that loved horses.
Some who stopped by were just looking to find their horse.
| Copyright © 2023 by Larry Bailie Larry Bailie was born two days after Saint Patrick’s Day in 1953, has been married for 47 years, and has two daughters and two grandchildren, who are his joy. Currently a realtor, Larry has worked in construction and run landscape crews. Traveling the Americas has given him many stories to relate, which he started journaling in 1968, but he has always returned to Florida, where he has gardened, surfed, fished, and explored the Everglades. |
Enjoyable. Love the story. Horses will visit the grave of a loved one. I've seen the same.
ReplyDeleteBettina, I remember your telling me how the horses on your farm have some kind of communication that runs deeper than human verbal communication, some sort of “mind listening.” I too know the feeling of being in the presence of high intelligence when standing closely face to face, eye to eye with a horse.
DeleteOnce one of the older mares died. Old age . No one used her but she would insist on going on rides She always hung out in pasture with one younger horse . After she passed that old girl would stop by her stall and wait until we would go get her. Both were amazing calf cutters.
DeleteWhoa! You comment: “… After she passed that old girl would stop by her stall….” Who is “that old girl”? Please clarify. Thanks.
DeleteThe two mares usually would stay together on pasture for a long time after the older one passed the younger would would wait at the older ones stall . We jad border collie that the horses loved . Had some kind chase game they would play in the pasture. When the collie broker his leg .they would stand at the fence and call him. Until they could see him. Animals have friendships too.
DeleteThere are quite a few videos of dog-and-calf friendships. I googled “dog and calf friendship” and clicked “videos.”
DeleteLarry explained that a "drag rider" is the lowest guy on the totem pole in a cattle drive, riding behind through the cow poop, eating dust and rounding up strays. They always have it in for the front riders, and this one must have had a beef with Kyle. I found Larry throwing pearls before swine on a crappy little poetry page where they spend more time running each other down than writing good poetry. Just couldn't stand his stuff not being seen and enjoyed by discerning readers. More to come.
ReplyDelete