Ambling about

Time well spent

Lately I’ve been given more thought to how much I enjoy taking my time when I fish. I’ve also spent enough time in the saddle to appreciate the words of this poem. It’s a wonderful, evocative and meaningful piece of writing.

I've got me a hundred dollar saddle...and a ten dollar horse...I've tried to get him to listen...but he follows his own course...He walks in his own way...never in no kind of hurry...I've got a things to do...but he ain't got no human worry.

He ambles on in his own time...my pocket watch don't mean a thing. He'll stop and grab a mouth of grass...or dally drinking from the spring. It doesn't matter if it's cold or windy...or if we're caught in a blowing rain...water running down my neck...and dripping off his mane. He's got one speed...and it's mighty slow...but if you've got a ten dollar horse...that's as fast as you will go.

I complain to the boys...and say he's an old broke down cayuse...they grin and make fun of me...and I suffer their abuse. But if the truth were spoken...and you really want to know...I'm getting older...and I don't mind ambling mighty slow.

-Ron Stonebear Shields