Monthly Archives: June 2005

Big Ranch, Deadly Disease

I came across a great quote today:

Two Texans were trying to impress each other with the size of their ranches. One asked the other, “What’s the name of your ranch?” The rancher replied, “The Rocking R, ABC, Flying W Circle C, Bar U, Staple Four, Box D, Rolling M, Rainbow’s End, and Silver Spur Ranch.” Duly impressed, the questioner exclaimed, “Wow! That’s sure some name! How many head of cattle do you run?” With a sad shake of his head, the rancher answered, “Not many. Very few survive the branding.” And so it is with pride. Very few survive this deadly disease.
– Mary Southerland

Those Winter Sundays

by Robert Hayden

Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he’d call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love’s austere and lonely offices?

Happy Father’s Day, everyone.