COWBOY POETRY: Angus and the Turkey

Bryce Angell is a cowboy poet. Angell was raised on a farm/ranch in the St. Anthony, Idaho area with approximately 75 head of horses. Horses remain an important part of Angell's life.  Angell shares his poetry with Cache Valley Daily every Friday.

Old Mose, the bunkhouse cook, got drunk and left without a trace. Thanksgiving was a day away, so Angus took his place.

Angus felt that as a cook, he really was no winner. But he made a promise to the men they’d have a turkey dinner.

He knew they had a turkey ‘cuz it gobbled every day. But when he opened up its pen, that gobbler ran away.

The turkey ran right through the cows. Then up, away it flew. For sure he wasn’t coming back. Now what would Angus do?

Angus yelled, “Who warned the turkey? I’m mad enough to fight. That had to be why he took off. I tell you it ain’t right.”

The cowboys all thought Angus had completely lost his mind. And now without a turkey, they sure were in a bind.

The cowboys figured Angus might be just a little slow. And to have some fun they fessed up that they let the turkey know.

Well Angus wasn’t fooled. He’d let them have their little joke. He’d like to buy a turkey, but till payday, he was broke.

Hank, the oldest, spoke right up and said, “I’ll make this brief. I don’t care if there ain’t turkey, ‘cuz you know I got no teef.”

Thanksgiving without turkey is like pepper with no salt. Angus thought how could this happen? This mess was all his fault.

He grabbed his double-barrel and set out to bag a bird. He had to find another one. He gave the boys his word.

Well Angus kept his promise, cooked his bird a golden-brown. He’d shot a big tom turkey. Took him hours to run it down.

Charlie took a drumstick, and he chomped down nice and tight. The lead BB he bit on broke his two front teeth outright.

Hank gobbled down the turkey even though he couldn’t chew. But he hoped the heavy shotgun lead would make its way on through.

When Thanksgiving Day was over, Charlie had a bad toothache. Hank felt like he’d been gut shot. The turkey? Bad mistake!

Did Angus keep his job as cook? I guess we can’t be sure. But I’ll bet you next year’s turkey comes straight from a grocery store.

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