Old Spookses' Pass Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDCEFEF A GHIHJKLK A MNONPQRS J KTUTVWXW J NNJNJYZY J NA2NA2B2NC2N J D2E2F2G2H2HNH J I2NJ2NK2ZL2Z F2 NJF2JPNM2N F2 F2F2F2F2N2HEHJF2N2F2 J K2NN2NGF2GF2 F2 JF2GF2NO2NO2 F2 NNONNNP2N J GG2Q2G2R2F2F2F2 J NF2S2F2T2ZF2Z J NNENNEF2E J U2F2NF2V2F2F2N J W2ZJZX2ENE F2 F2NY2NNF2EF2 F2 F2NB2NNF2N F2 N2NNNNEVE F2 F2R2NR2JNZ2N F2 NNENNNF2F2 J NF2F2F2F2JF2J J F2F2LNA3NVN J JZB3ZENNN J NNVNQNP2N J NNC3NOD3ND3 F2 NF2NF2B2R2F2R2 F2 F2Y2E3Y2F2A2NA2 F2 NENEF2EJE F2 NNF2NJD3ND3 F2 F2ZE3ZNJNJ J NYNYNNNN J F3NNNF2G3ZG3NH3NH3 J I3NJ3NK3NLN J NR2L3R2EL3EL3 J NHF2HNNNN F2 F2C3I3C3F2NVN C3 H3E3NE3NOM3O C3 N3NQNNNN3N C3 JNR2NJO3P3O3 C3 F2F2NF2JNNN J Q3F2F2F2C3J2F2J2 J C3NF2NR3C3VC3 J F2NZNC3NNN J ND3E3D3O2C3NC3 J C3N3W2N3NF2B3F2 F2 NNE2NC3NF2N C3 H3NNNC3NR2N F2 F2JNJJENE F2 N3NJ2NYF2VF2 F2 NNS3NF2F2F2F2

I	A
	-
We'd camp'd that night on Yaller Bull Flat	B
Thar was Possum Billy an' Tom an' me	C
Right smart at throwin' a lariat	D
Was them two fellers as ever I see	C
An' for ridin' a broncho or argyin' squar	E
With the devil roll'd up in the hide of a mule	F
Them two fellers that camp'd with me thar	E
Would hev made an' or'nary feller a fool	F
	-
II	A
	-
Fur argyfyin' in any way	G
Thet hed to be argy'd with sinew an' bone	H
I never see'd fellers could argy like them	I
But just right har I will hev to own	H
Thet whar brains come in in the game of life	J
They held the poorest keerds in the lot	K
An' when hands was shown some other chap	L
Rak'd in the hull of the blam'd old pot	K
	-
III	A
	-
We was short of hands the herd was large	M
An' watch an' watch we divided the night	N
We could hear the coyotes howl an' whine	O
But the darn'd critters kept out of sight	N
Of the camp fire blazin' an' now an' then	P
Thar come a rustle an' sort of rush	Q
A rattle a sneakin' away from the blaze	R
Thro' the rattlin' cracklin' grey sage bush	S
	-
IV	J
	-
We'd chanc'd that night on a pootyish lot	K
With a tol'ble show of tall sweet grass	T
We was takin' Speredo's drove across	U
The Rockies by way of Old Spookses' Pass	T
An' a mite of a creek went crinklin' down	V
Like a pocket bust in the rocks overhead	W
Consid'able shrunk by the summer drought	X
To a silver streak in its gravelly bed	W
	-
V	J
	-
'Twas a fairish spot fur to camp a' night	N
An' chipper I felt tho' sort of skeer'd	N
That them two cowboys with only me	J
Couldn't boss three thousand head of a herd	N
I took the fust of the watch myself	J
An' as the red sun down the mountains sprang	Y
I roll'd a fresh quid an' got on the back	Z
Of my peart leetle chunk of a tough mustang	Y
	-
VI	J
	-
An' Possum Billy was sleepin' sound	N
Es only a cowboy knows how to sleep	A2
An' Tommy's snores would hev made a old	N
Buffalo bull feel kind o' cheap	A2
Wal pard I reckin' thar's no sech time	B2
For dwind'lin' a chap in his own conceit	N
Es when them mountains an' awful stars	C2
Jest hark to the tramp of his mustang's feet	N
	-
VII	J
	-
It 'pears to me that them solemn hills	D2
Beckin' them stars so big an' calm	E2
An' whisper Make tracks this way my friends	F2
We've ring'd in here a specimen man	G2
He's here alone so we'll take a look	H2
Thro' his ganzy an' vest an' his blood an' bone	H
An post ourselves as to whether his heart	N
Is flesh or a rotten made up stone	H
	-
VIII	J
	-
An' it's often seemed on a midnight watch	I2
When the mountains blacken'd the dry brown sod	N
That a chap if he shut his eyes might grip	J2
The great kind hand of his Father God	N
I rode round the herd at a sort of walk	K2
The shadders come stealin' thick an' black	Z
I'd jest got to leave tew that thar chunk	L2
Of a mustang tew keep in the proper track	Z
	-
IX	F2
	-
Ever see'd a herd ring'd in at night	N
Wal it's sort of cur'us the watchin' sky	J
The howl of coyotes a great black mass	F2
With thar an' thar the gleam of a eye	J
An' the white of a horn an' now an' then	P
An' old bull liftin' his shaggy head	N
With a beller like a broke up thunder growl	M2
An' the summer lightnin' quick an' red	N
	-
X	F2
	-
Twistin' an' turnin' amid the stars	F2
Silent as snakes at play in the grass	F2
An' plungin' thar fangs in the bare old skulls	F2
Of the mountains frownin' above the Pass	F2
An' all so still that the leetle creek	N2
Twinklin' an crinklin' from stone to stone	H
Grows louder an' louder an' fills the air	E
With a cur'us sort of a singin' tone	H
It ain't no matter wharever ye be	J
I'll 'low it's a cur'us sort of case	F2
Whar thar's runnin' water it's sure to speak	N2
Of folks tew home an' the old home place	F2
	-
XI	J
	-
An' yer bound tew listen an' hear it talk	K2
Es yer mustang crunches the dry bald sod	N
Fur I reckin' the hills an' stars an' creek	N2
Are all of 'em preachers sent by God	N
An' them mountains talk tew a chap this way	G
Climb if ye can ye degenerate cuss	F2
An' the stars smile down on a man an say	G
Come higher poor critter come up tew us	F2
	-
XII	F2
	-
An' I reckin' pard thar is One above	J
The highest old star that a chap can see	F2
An' He says in a solid etarnal way	G
Ye never can stop till ye get to ME	F2
Good fur Him tew fur I calculate	N
HE ain't the One to dodge an' tew shirk	O2
Or waste a mite of the things He's made	N
Or knock off till He's finished His great Day's work	O2
	-
XIII	F2
	-
We've got to labor an' strain an' snort	N
Along thet road thet He's planned an' made	N
Don't matter a mite He's cut His line	O
Tew run over a 'tarnal tough up grade	N
An' if some poor sinner ain't built tew hold	N
Es big a head of steam es the next	N
An' keeps slippin' an' slidin' 'way down hill	P2
Why He don't make out that He's awful vex'd	N
	-
XIV	J
	-
Fur He knows He made Him in that thar way	G
Somewhars tew fit In His own great plan	G2
An' He ain't the Bein' tew pour His wrath	Q2
On the head of thet slimpsy an' slippery man	G2
An' He says tew the feller Look here my son	R2
You're the worst hard case that ever I see	F2
But be thet it takes ye a million y'ars	F2
Ye never can stop till ye git tew ME	F2
	-
XV	J
	-
Them's my idees es I pann'd them out	N
Don't take no stock in them creeds that say	F2
Thar's a chap with horns thet's took control	S2
Of the rollin' stock on thet up grade way	F2
Thet's free to tote up es ugly a log	T2
Es grows in his big bush grim an' black	Z
An' slyly put it across the rails	F2
Tew hist a poor critter clar off the track	Z
	-
XVI	J
	-
An' when he's pooty well busted an' smash'd	N
The devil comes smilin' an' bowin' round	N
Says tew the Maker Guess ye don't keer	E
Tew trouble with stock thet ain't parfactly sound	N
Lemme tote him away best ye can do	N
Neglected I guess tew build him with care	E
I'll hide him in hell better thet folks	F2
Shouldn't see him laid up on the track for repair	E
	-
XVII	J
	-
Don't take no stock in them creeds at all	U2
Ain't one of them cur'us sort of moles	F2
Thet think the Maker is bound to let	N
The devil git up a corner in souls	F2
Ye think I've put up a biggish stake	V2
Wal I'll bet fur all I'm wuth d'ye see	F2
He ain't wuth shucks thet won't dar tew lay	F2
All his pile on his own idee	N
	-
XVIII	J
	-
Ye bet yer boots I am safe tew win	W2
Es the chap thet's able tew smilin' smack	Z
The ace he's been hidin' up his sleeve	J
Kerslap on top of a feller's jack	Z
Es I wus sayin' the night wus dark	X2
The lightnin' skippin' from star to star	E
Thar wa'n't no clouds but a thread of mist	N
No sound but the coyotes yell afar	E
	-
XIX	F2
	-
An' the noise of the creek as it called tew me	F2
Pard don't ye mind the mossy green spot	N
Whar a creek stood still fur a drowzin' spell	Y2
Right in the midst of the old home lot	N
Whar right at sundown on Sabba'day	N
Ye skinn'd yerself of yer meetin' clothes	F2
An dove like a duck whar the water clar	E
Shone up like glass through the lily blows	F2
	-
XX	F2
	-
Yer soul wus white es yer skin them days	F2
Yer eyes es clar es the creek at rest	N
The wust idee in yer head thet time	B2
Wus robbin' a bluebird's swingin' nest	N
Now ain't ye changed declar fur it pard	N
Thet creek would question it 'pears tew me	F2
Ef ye looked in its waters agin tew night	N
'Who may this old cuss of a sinner be '	-
	-
XXI	F2
	-
Thet wus the style thet thet thar creek	N2
In Old Spookses' Pass in the Rockies talked	N
Drowzily list'nin' I rode round the herd	N
When all of a sudden the mustang balked	N
An' shied with a snort I never know'd	N
Thet tough leetle critter tew show a scare	E
In storm or dark but he jest scrouch'd down	V
With his nostrils snuffin' the damp cool air	E
	-
XXII	F2
	-
An' his flanks a quiver Shook up Wal yes	F2
Guess'd we hev heaps of tarnation fun	R2
I calculated quicker'n light	N
That the herd would be off on a healthy run	R2
But thar warn't a stir tew horn or hoof	J
The herd like a great black mist lay spread	N
While har an' thar a grazin' bull	Z2
Loom'd up like a mighty thunder head	N
	-
XXIII	F2
	-
I riz in my saddle an' star'd around	N
On the mustang's neck I felt the sweat	N
Thar wus nuthin' tew see sort of felt the har	E
Commencin' tew crawl on my scalp ye bet	N
Felt kind of cur'us own up I did	N
Felt sort of dry in my mouth an' throat	N
Sez I Ye ain't goin' tew scare old hoss	F2
At a prowlin' coss of a blamed coyote	F2
	-
XXIV	J
	-
But 'twan't no coyote nor prowlin' beast	N
Nor rattle a wrigglin' through the grass	F2
Nor a lurkin' red skin 'twan't my way	F2
In a game like that to sing out I pass	F2
But I know'd when I glimps'd the rollin' whites	F2
The sparks from the black of the mustang's eye	J
Thar wus somethin' waltzin' up thet way	F2
Thet would send them critters off on the fly	J
	-
XXV	J
	-
In the night air's tremblin' shakin' hands	F2
Felt it beatin' kerslap onto me	F2
Like them waves thet chas'd thet President chap	L
Thet went on the war trail in old Judee	N
The air wus bustin' but silent es death	A3
An' lookin' up in a second I seed	N
The sort of sky thet allers looks down	V
On the rush an' the roar of a night stampede	N
	-
XXVI	J
	-
Tearin' along the indigo sky	J
Wus a drove of clouds snarl'd an' black	Z
Scuddin' along to'ards the risin' moon	B3
Like the sweep of a darn'd hungry pack	Z
Of preairie wolves to'ard a bufferler	E
The heft of the herd left out of sight	N
I dror'd my breath right hard fur I know'd	N
We wus in fur a'tarnal run thet night	N
	-
XXVII	J
	-
Quiet Ye bet The mustang scrounch'd	N
His neck stretch'd out an' his nostrils wide	N
The moonshine swept a white river down	V
The black of the mighty mountain's side	N
Lappin' over an' over the stuns an' brush	Q
In whirls an' swirls of leapin' light	N
Makin' straight fur the herd whar black an' still	P2
It stretch'd away to the left an' right	N
	-
XXVIII	J
	-
On the level lot I tell ye pard	N
I know'd when it touch'd the first black hide	N
Me an' the mustang would hev a show	C3
Fur a breezy bit of an' evenin' ride	N
One it flow'd over a homely pine	O
Thet riz from a cranny lean an' lank	D3
A cleft of the mountain reckinin' two	N
It slapp'd onto an' old steer's heavin' flank	D3
	-
XXIX	F2
	-
Es sound he slept on the skirt of the herd	N
Dreamin' his dreams of the sweet blue grass	F2
On the plains below an' afore it touched	N
The other wall of Old Spookses' Pass	F2
The herd wus up not one at a time	B2
Thet ain't the style in a midnight run	R2
They wus up an' off like es all thair minds	F2
Wus roll'd in the hide of only one	R2
	-
XXX	F2
	-
I've fit in a battle an' heerd the guns	F2
Blasphemin' God with their devils' yell	Y2
Heerd the stuns of a fort like thunder crash	E3
In front of the scream of a red hot shell	Y2
But thet thar poundin' of iron hoofs	F2
The clatter of horns the peltin' sweep	A2
Of three thousand head of a runnin' herd	N
Made all of them noises kind of cheap	A2
	-
XXXI	F2
	-
The Pass jest open'd its giant throat	N
An' its lips of granite an' let a roar	E
Of answerin' echoes the mustang buck'd	N
Then answer'd the bridle an' pard afore	E
The twink of a fire bug lifted his legs	F2
Over stuns an' brush like a lopin' deer	E
A smart leetle critter An' thar wus I	J
'Longside of the plungin' leadin' steer	E
	-
XXXII	F2
	-
A low set critter not much account	N
For heft or looks but one of them sort	N
Thet kin fetch a herd at his darn'd heels	F2
With a toss of his horns or a mite of a snort	N
Fur a fight or a run an' thar wus I	J
Pressin' clus to the steel of his heavin' flank	D3
An' cussin' an' shoutin' while overhead	N
The moon in the black clouds tremblin' sank	D3
	-
XXXIII	F2
	-
Like a bufferler overtook by the wolves	F2
An' pull'd tew the ground by the scuddin' pack	Z
The herd rush'd oh with a din an' crash	E3
Dim es a shadder vast an' black	Z
Couldn't tell ef a hide wus black or white	N
But from the dim surges a roarin' by	J
Bust long red flashes the flamin' light	N
From some old steer's furious an' scareful eye	J
	-
XXXIV	J
	-
Thet pass in the Rockies fairly roar'd	N
An sudden' es winkin' came the bang	Y
An rattle of thunder Tew see the grit	N
Of thet peart little chunk of a tough mustang	Y
Not a buck nor a shy he gev a snort	N
Thet shook the foam on his steamin' hide	N
An' leap'd along Wal pard ye bet	N
I'd a healthy show fur a lively ride	N
	-
XXXV	J
	-
An' them cowboys slept in the leetle camp	F3
Calm es three kids in a truckle bed	N
Declar the crash wus enough tew put	N
Life in the dust of the sleepin' dead	N
The thunder kept droppin' its awful shells	F2
One at a minute on mountain an' rock	G3
The pass with its stone lips thunder'd back	Z
An' the rush an' roar an' whirlin' shock	G3
Of the runnin' herd wus fit tew bust	N
A tenderfoot's heart hed he chanc'd along	H3
But I jest let out of my lungs an' throat	N
A rippin' old verse of a herdsman's song	H3
	-
XXXVI	J
	-
An' sidl'd the mustang closer up	I3
'Longside of the leader an' hit him flat	N
On his steamin' flank with a lightsome stroke	J3
Of the end of my limber lariat	N
He never swerv'd an' we thunder'd on	K3
Black in the blackness red in the red	N
Of the lightnin' blazin' with ev'ry clap	L
That bust from the black guns overhead	N
	-
XXXVII	J
	-
The mustang wus shod an' the lightnin' bit	N
At his iron shoes each step he run	R2
Then plung'd in the yearth we rode in flame	L3
Fur the flashes roll'd inter only one	R2
Same es the bellers made one big roar	E
Yet thro' the whirl of din an' flame	L3
I sung an' shouted an' call'd the steer	E
I sidl'd agin by his own front name	L3
	-
XXXVIII	J
	-
An' struck his side with my fist an' foot	N
'Twas jest like hittin' a rushin' stone	H
An' he thunder'd ahead I couldn't boss	F2
The critter a mossel I'm free tew own	H
The sweat come a pourin' down my beard	N
Ef ye wonder wharfor jest ye spread	N
Yerself far a ride with a runnin' herd	N
A yawnin' gulch half a mile ahead	N
	-
XXXIX	F2
	-
Three hundred foot from its grinnin' lips	F2
Tew the roarin' stream on its stones below	C3
Once more I hurl'd the mustang up	I3
Agin the side of the cuss call'd Joe	C3
Twan't a mite of use he riz his heels	F2
Up in the air like a scuddin' colt	N
The herd mass'd closer an' hurl'd down	V
The roarin' Pass like a thunderbolt	N
	-
XL	C3
	-
I couldn't rein off seem'd swept along	H3
In the rush an' roar an' thunderin' crash	E3
The lightnin' struck at the runnin' herd	N
With a crack like the stroke of a cowboy's lash	E3
Thar I could see it I tell ye pard	N
Things seem'd whittl'd down sort of fine	O
We wasn't five hundred feet from the gulch	M3
With its mean little fringe of scrubby pine	O
	-
XLI	C3
	-
What could stop us I grit my teeth	N3
Think I pray'd ain't sartin of thet	N
When whizzin' an' singin' thar came the rush	Q
Right past my face of a lariat	N
Bully fur you old pard I roar'd	N
Es it whizz'd roun' the leader's steamin' chest	N
An' I wheel'd the mustang fur all he was wuth	N3
Kerslap on the side of the old steer's breast	N
	-
XLII	C3
	-
He gev a snort an' I see him swerve	J
I foller'd his shoulder clus an' tight	N
Another swerve an' the herd begun	R2
To swing around Shouts I All right	N
Ye've fetch'd 'em now The mustang gave	J
A small leettle whinney I felt him flinch	O3
Sez I Ye ain't goin' tew weaken now	P3
Old feller an' me in this darn'd pinch	O3
	-
XLIII	C3
	-
No sez he with his small prickin' ears	F2
Plain es a human could speak an' me	F2
I turn'd my head tew glimpse ef I could	N
Who might the chap with the lariat be	F2
Wal Pard I weaken'd ye bet yer life	J
Thar wasn't a human in sight around	N
But right in front of me come the beat	N
Of a hoss's hoofs on the tremblin' ground	N
	-
XLIV	J
	-
Steddy an' heavy a slingin' lope	Q3
A hefty critter with biggish bones	F2
Might make jest sich could hear the hoofs	F2
Es they struck on the rattlin' rollin' stones	F2
The jingle of bit an' clar an' shrill	C3
A whistle es ever left cowboy's lip	J2
An' cuttin' the air the long fine hiss	F2
Of the whirlin' lash of a cowboy's whip	J2
	-
XLV	J
	-
I crowded the mustang back ontil	C3
He riz on his haunches an' I sed	N
In the Maker's name who may ye be	F2
Sez a vice Old feller jest ride ahead	N
All right sez I an' I shook the rein	R3
Ye've turn'd the herd in a hansum style	C3
Whoever ye be I'll not back down	V
An' I didn't neither ye bet yer pile	C3
	-
XLVI	J
	-
Clus on the heels of that unseen hoss	F2
I rode on the side of the turnin' herd	N
An' once in a while I answer'd back	Z
A shout or a whistle or cheerin' word	N
From lips no lightnin' was strong tew show	C3
'Twas sort of scareful that midnight ride	N
But we'd got our backs tew the gulch fur that	N
I'd hev foller'd a curiouser sort of guide	N
	-
XLVII	J
	-
'Twas kind of scareful tew watch the herd	N
Es the plungin' leaders squirm'd an' shrank	D3
Es I heerd the flick of the unseen lash	E3
Hiss on the side of a steamin' flank	D3
Guess the feller was smart at the work	O2
We work'd them leaders round ontil	C3
They overtook the tail of the herd	N
An' the hull of the crowd begun tew mill	C3
	-
XLVIII	J
	-
Round spun the herd in a great black wheel	C3
Slower an' slower ye've seen beneath	N3
A biggish torrent a whirlpool spin	W2
Its waters black es the face of Death	N3
'Pear'd sort of like that the millin' herd	N
We kept by the leaders HIM and me	F2
Neck by neck an' he sung a tune	B3
About a young gal nam'd Betsey Lee	F2
	-
XLIX	F2
	-
Jine in the chorus Wal yas I did	N
He sung like a regilar mockin' bird	N
An' us cowboys allus sing out ef tew calm	E2
The scare ef we can of a runnin' herd	N
Slower an' slower wheel'd round the mill	C3
The maddest old steer of a leader slow'd	N
Slower an' slower sounded the hoofs	F2
Of the hoss that HIM in front of me rode	N
	-
L	C3
	-
Fainter an' fainter grow'd that thar song	H3
Of Betsey Lee an' her har of gold	N
Fainter an' fainter grew the sound	N
Of the unseen hoofs on the tore up mold	N
The leadin' steer that cuss of a Joe	C3
Stopp'd an' shook off the foam an' the sweat	N
With a stamp and a beller the run was done	R2
Wus glad of it tew yer free tew bet	N
	-
LI	F2
	-
The herd slow'd up an' stood in a mass	F2
Of blackness lit by the lightnin's eye	J
An' the mustang cower'd es something swept	N
Clus to his wet flank in passin' by	J
Good night tew ye Pard Good night sez I	J
Strainin' my sight on the empty air	E
The har riz rustlin' up on my head	N
Now that I hed time tew scare	E
	-
LII	F2
	-
The mustang flinch'd till his saddle girth	N3
Scrap'd on the dust of the tremblin' ground	N
There cum a laugh the crack of a whip	J2
A whine like the cry of a well pleas'd hound	N
The noise of a hoss thet rear'd an' sprang	Y
At the touch of a spur then all was still	F2
But the sound of the thunder dyin' down	V
On the stony breast of the highest hill	F2
	-
LIII	F2
	-
The herd went back to its rest an' feed	N
Es quiet a crowd es ever wore hide	N
An' them boys in camp never heerd a lisp	S3
Of the thunder an' crash of that run an' ride	N
An' I'll never forget while a wild cat claws	F2
Or a cow loves a nibble of sweet blue grass	F2
The cur'us pardner that rode with me	F2
In the night stampede in Old Spookses Pass	F2

Isabella Valancy Crawford

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